TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Hsinchu City Government fined Ming Hao Enterprise (明豪企業), maker of Nong Geng Brand (農耕牌) rice noodles, NT$3.84 million (US$119,000) after four products were found to contain formaldehyde.
Violations involved four rice noodle products: pumpkin, oat, yam, and mushroom vegetarian flavors. Each product tested positive for formaldehyde, in violation of the Food Safety Act, per a press release.
Hsinchu City Spokesperson Yang Chun-Tzu (楊郡慈) said a heavy fine was imposed because the company committed three violations in one year. She said the penalty was necessary to protect the reputation of Hsinchu's century-old rice noodle industry.
Yang said the city government has zero tolerance for food safety violations. The company has been ordered to remove the products from store shelves, recall them, and halt production and sales. Relevant evidence has also been transferred to prosecutors for further investigation.
The Hsinchu City Department of Education has conducted a citywide inspection of school food supplies to ensure that no schools at any level have used the company's affected rice noodle products.
The city government expanded sampling inspections to 15 rice noodle manufacturers and 23 products across the city. Test results showed that all other products from other manufacturers were free of formaldehyde contamination, per the press release.
The government said the inspection results have been published on the Health Bureau's food safety website for public review. It pledged vigilant food safety enforcement while also providing guidance and support to compliant businesses to improve food safety management.
The Hsinchu City Government added that it will continue helping local rice noodle manufacturers participate in domestic and international food exhibitions, specialty markets, and brand promotion activities to restore consumer confidence and strengthen the reputation of Hsinchu rice noodles.
