TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pai Wei Foods (百威食品), a food processor that illegally used industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide to clean pork intestines, was fined NT$54 million (US$1.6 million) on Wednesday, according to the Taipei City Department of Health.
Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁), director of the department’s Food and Drug Division, said Pai Wei Foods is registered in Taipei and operates a warehouse in New Taipei. At the same time, its processing plant is located in Pingtung County, per CNA.
The company's business has been suspended and is barred from shipping goods in or out of the city. It is required to submit an improvement plan for review before resuming operations. Lin added that the firm lacked product liability insurance and maintained an extensive distribution network across northern Taiwan.
Authorities found that Li Tai Meats (利太肉店), a wholesaler on Ningxia Road in Taipei, had purchased 674 kg of tainted pork intestines from Pai Wei Foods since June. The store reportedly sold 100 to 120 kg per month to Lin Ji Spicy Tofu (林記麻辣豆腐), totaling 440 kg, while the remaining 234 kg were sold to other, unidentified customers.
According to Lin, Li Tai Meats failed to provide receipts for shipments to Lin Ji Spicy Tofu and other clients, apparently to evade taxes, which has complicated efforts to trace the contaminated products. The business impropriety has been reported to municipal authorities for further investigation.
Lin said Lin Ji Spicy Tofu admitted to four purchases from Li Tai Meats between June and September, but also failed to provide receipts. The shop has been ordered to correct its operations in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. Failure to comply with the deadline could result in fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million.
To safeguard consumers, the department inspected 64 businesses across Taipei’s markets, night markets, and shopping districts on Wednesday. Tests conducted on 14 pork intestine samples found no traces of hydrogen peroxide.
Lin said random inspections will continue in the coming days, with hundreds of samples being tested. The results will be released to the public once available.
