The Executive Yuan's food safety task force met today to review progress on investigations into bottled water and egg products, saying that regulators have been cracking down on problematic businesses and making sure products meet food safety standards. The task force also asked regulators to increase awareness among poultry farmers about the safe use of drugs in egg production.
From June to July, the task force led an inter-ministerial investigation into businesses suspected of bottling water from questionable sources. In that operation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Environmental Protection Administration, and local authorities teamed up to inspect the quality and safety of water at extraction and bottling plants as well as the legality of those water sources. The MOHW will compile the findings and announce the results in conjunction with the other agencies.
In order to strengthen the sanitation and safety of eggs sold at markets as well as source control of food suppliers, this July the task force launched a joint inspection project dedicated to egg products. The Council of Agriculture (COA), MOHW, and local governments conducted inspections of egg product vendors, suppliers and factories as well as poultry farms, targeting animal drug residues in their products and environmental sanitation in their facilities. The MOHW and COA already assessed fines for six cases in which animal drug residue in eggs did not conform to regulations during a joint inspection of breakfast foods undertaken in May.
The Executive Yuan also stated that due to the summer heat, health concepts are popular, and sales of fruits and other light food products are on the rise. In response to demand for convenient and healthy foods, in August and September the task force will conduct a joint inspection of producers of sprouts and freshly cut fruits and vegetables.