TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday dispelled online rumors that substandard China-made stainless steel tableware and containers had entered Taiwan by releasing the results of inspections and market sampling.
According to the FDA, inspections of stainless steel tableware and food containers over the past three years have consistently met regulations. Toxicology experts also urged consumers not to panic, per CNA.
The agency said that from 2023 to 2025, a project sampled 97 metal alloy food containers, including 27 stainless steel products. All samples met hygiene standards. Still, the agency advised consumers to purchase products from reputable brands or those manufactured in Taiwan with clear labeling.
Yen Tzung-hai (級主治), a professor and attending physician in the Department of Nephrology at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, recommended 300-series stainless steel for household tableware, cookware, and kettles. He said the 300 series contains chromium and nickel, giving it a more stable chemical structure, stronger corrosion resistance, and better rust prevention.
Yen said the more common 200 series substitutes manganese for the more expensive nickel, making it chemically less stable and more prone to corrosion and rust. Addressing concerns about manganese poisoning, Yen said most cases involve factory workers exposed to high levels of manganese over long periods without proper protection, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases similar to Parkinson’s disease.
He added that using manganese-containing tableware is unlikely to cause heavy metal poisoning, though he still recommended 300-series stainless steel products due to their superior quality.
A night market vendor surnamed Huang (黃) said he chooses products manufactured in Taiwan by major companies and labeled as 304 or 316 stainless steel. He added that consumers have become increasingly concerned in recent years about whether products are domestically made, per CNA.
The Taipei City Government Office of Commerce responded to similar online complaints, stating it would inspect product labeling and help forward complaints to the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection. The office said vendors selling food containers or tableware that fail to meet food safety standards could face penalties.
The Taichung City Government Office of Food and Drug Safety said it regularly conducts sampling inspections at department stores and traditional markets. From 2021 through the end of March this year, it inspected 149 food containers, all of which complied with regulations. The department said it would continue expanding the scope of inspections.
The Kaohsiung City Department of Health said from 2021 through the end of April 2026, it sampled 229 food containers. Only one baking pan failed to meet regulations in 2024. The bureau said it would continue random inspections and monitoring of tableware and food containers sold on the market.
The FDA said labeling for stainless steel food containers must comply with the Commodity Labeling Act. Businesses that fail to comply may be ordered to correct violations within a specified time frame. Those who fail to do so could face fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$200,000 (US$600 to US$6,000).
