TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Health Alliance said Thursday that 43% of individuals in Taiwan are dissatisfied with the government’s food safety oversight.

The alliance conducted an online survey on food safety and low-sugar lifestyles from May 6-13. It collected 1,113 valid responses from Taiwanese residents aged 20 and above, per CNA.

Taiwan Health Alliance Chair Wu Yu-chin (吳玉琴) said that 34.5% of survey respondents believe the government should strengthen food safety controls at the source. Meanwhile, 79.7% reported that their dining habits have been affected by a wave of food safety incidents.

Wu said that 92.3% of respondents believe sugary drinks are harmful to health, yet nearly 40% consume them more than three times a week. Additionally, 73.8% of respondents support implementing a “sugar tax” on sugary beverages.

Chen Pey-rong (陳珮蓉), a dietitian at the National Taiwan University Hospital, said that a sugar tax could help reduce sugar intake. She noted that nutrition labeling should be improved and suggested using color-coded categories to make it easier for consumers to identify sugar content at a glance.

Food and Drug Administration Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) pledged the agency will continue to strengthen food source management, inspections, and manufacturer guidance. He added that border inspection staff will be increased to block substandard food and ingredients from entering the country.

According to the administration, food poisoning cases have increased alongside the rise in people eating out. In the first quarter of last year, there were 446 reported cases affecting more than 2,500 individuals, marking the highest number over the past three years.

In March 2024, a food poisoning outbreak at Polam Kopitiam restaurant in the Far Eastern Department Store in Taipei resulted in 33 people falling ill and six deaths. The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office found that the victims had consumed rice noodles containing bongkrekic acid, a fatal poison found in fermented food.

A month earlier, Yunlin’s Health Bureau discovered chili powder imported from China that contained Sudan dye, a toxic chemical banned in Taiwan. The contaminated powder had been distributed to downstream businesses, including producers of snacks, seasonings, and curry powder.