The Food and Drug Administration of the Republic of China recently uncovered a health supplement illegally using food additives. This time, the health supplement uncovered is named “Lutein Sublingual Drops,” which is sold on many well-known e-commerce platforms. The FDA stated that the product involves illegal use of food additives and false advertising. If you and your family have previously purchased this product, please remember to immediately call the manufacturer to inquire about how to handle returns.
The Food and Drug Administration (hereinafter referred to as the FDA), in conjunction with the Taiwan Provincial Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office of the Republic of China, the Seventh General Column of the National Police Agency, and the Kaohsiung City Government Health Bureau, inspected “Kuan-○ Biological Technology Industry Co., Ltd.” on March 3, 2016. Its “Lutein Sublingual Drops” product had a lutein concentration of $0.66 \text{ mg/g}$ according to previous test results, which is inconsistent with the label on the outer packaging (claimed to be rich in $30 \text{ mg}$ of lutein per gram). Cases of the product name not complying with regulations and the addition of expired blueberry flavor were also found at the scene. About $70.4$ kg of products with false labels were sealed on-site, and about $94.7$ kg of relevant expired raw materials, semi-finished products, and products were sealed, totaling about $165.1$ kg. The Health Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government ordered the operator to immediately stop selling and recall the non-compliant products. The entire case has been transferred by the Health Bureau to the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office for investigation.
Caption: FDA Uncovers Illegal Additives
The FDA stated that false labeling of food involves a violation of Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act (hereinafter referred to as the Food Safety Act). According to Article 45, Paragraph 1 of the same Act, a fine of $40,000$ to $4$ million NT dollars can be imposed. Non-compliant products should be ordered to be recalled and corrected within a time limit according to Article 52, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the same Act, and must not continue to be sold before correction. The use of expired food additives involves a violation of Article 15, Paragraph 1, Item 8 of the Food Safety Act. According to Article 44, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the same Act, a fine of more than 60,000 NT dollars and less than 200 million NT dollars shall be imposed.
The FDA calls on operators to use food additives within their storage period and to accurately label product information. It will continue to supervise the health bureau’s comprehensive removal and recall of non-compliant products, and handle illegal operators strictly according to law to maintain the food safety of the consuming public.
Thoughts from the Editor:
Grand Justices of the FDA, please publish the full name of the manufacturer in your press releases next time, okay? Apple News has already announced the suspect manufacturer’s name as Kuan Yuan Biological Technology Co., Ltd. In fact, this type of suspected criminal behavior should not be protected by the Personal Data Protection Act; otherwise, how can you expect people to immediately identify whether the product in their hands is a problematic entry?