Taipei: A batch of coriander powder imported from India has been destroyed at the border for containing Sudan I, a banned toxic dye, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Tuesday. The 10-kilogram batch of spices also contained excessive amounts of pesticides, raising concerns over the safety of imported food products.

According to Focus Taiwan, Cheng Wei-chih, head of the TFDA's Northern Center for Regional Administration, stated that coriander powder imported from India will undergo batch-by-batch inspection for Sudan dyes until June 4, 2026. This measure aims to ensure that future imports meet Taiwan's safety standards and prevent the entry of contaminated products.

Meanwhile, two separate batches of gelato take-out containers from Italy, imported by Venchi Taiwan Limited, Taiwan Branch (Hong Kong), were stopped at the border for violating import regulations. The 62.04 kg batch of containers for the chocolate brand Venchi contained optical brightening agents, which are prohibited for use in food containers. Additionally, the containers failed dissolution tests, indicating a risk of releasing toxic substances during normal use.

Cheng noted that this is the first violation in two years for the importer, who will now face an increased inspection rate of 20-50 percent, compared to the usual rate of 2-10 percent. This heightened scrutiny is intended to prevent further non-compliance with Taiwan's strict import regulations.

Also on Tuesday's list of items blocked at the border were dried mulberries from China, nirala cumin powder from India, and fresh durian from Vietnam, which were flagged for excessive bleach, pesticides, and heavy metal contaminations, respectively. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by the TFDA in ensuring the safety and quality of imported food products.