Taipei: A batch of English mustard imported from France was recently blocked at the border for containing a preservative exceeding permitted levels. The 48 kilograms of mustard supplied by Charbonneaux-Brabant S.A. were found to contain 0.079 g/kg of sulphur dioxide, exceeding the legal limit of 0.030 g/kg, the TFDA said.

According to Focus Taiwan, sulphur dioxide is a common preservative used to prevent browning, microbial growth, and spoilage, found in foodstuffs such as dried fruits, pickled vegetables, and some meat products. Tsai Chia-fen, deputy director of the TFDA’s Northern Center for Regional Administration, stated that the batch would be returned or destroyed in accordance with regulations.

The Taipei-based importer, Gourmet’s Partner Ltd., will now face an increased inspection rate of 20-50 percent at the border, up from the usual 2-10 percent. From February 4 to August 4 this year, Taiwan imported 36 batches of mustard from France, five of which failed safety inspections, accounting for 13.9 percent of the total, with excessive sulfur dioxide residue being the cause of all inspection failures.

Meanwhile, eight other items unveiled on Tuesday that also recently failed safety inspections included dried green mung beans from Thailand and fresh durian from Vietnam. The durian, imported by two different companies, has been tested to contain excessive levels of pesticide or banned insecticides, including azoxystrobin, prochloraz, acephate, and methamidophos.

The combined two batches of this tropical fruit exceeded 30,000 kg, and they will all be returned to their country of origin or destroyed in accordance with regulations. Due to issues related to Vietnamese durians, fruit from the Southeast Asian country has been subject to a 100 percent safety inspection at the border since July 22, the TFDA said.