A shipment of cheese powder imported from South Korea was seized recently at Taiwan’s border, after it was found to contain a prohibited sweetener, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday.

The 200 kilograms of South Korean cheese powder, imported by Taipei-based Zhen Mei Wei International Food Co., Ltd., contained 0.45 grams per kilogram of a sweetener called steviol glycoside, the Taiwan FDA said.

Taiwan permits the use of steviol glycoside as a sweeter in certain foods and beverages such as preserved fruit, ice cream, chewing gum and soft drinks, but not in cheese powder, FDA division chief Chen Ching-yu (???) said.

The cheese powder was among 11 imported products that were not allowed to clear Customs in Taiwan recently because they were found to contain banned substances or excessive levels of additives, he said.

The products, including banana ketchup from the Philippines, chickpeas from the United States and beef from Nicaragua, will either be destroyed or returned to the country of origin, according to Chen.

The importer of the cheese powder is also the agent for the South Korean fried chicken brand NeNe Chicken in Taiwan.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel