The Food and Drug Administration says of 15 shipments of chili powder
imported from China have been found to contain banned Sudan dyes.

The statement comes as the F-D-A has been testing 59 shipments imported from
21 Chinese exporters and manufacturers - all of which were imported into
Taiwan prior to December 11 of last year.

According to the F-D-A, its inspections are focusing on shipments of chili
powder exported by those businesses before that date, as all chili powder
imported from China was subject to 100-percent shipment-by-shipment
inspections from December 11.

The F-D-A has yet to release the results of tests on a couple of other
shipments.

Of the 15 shipments that have tested positive for Sudan dyes so far, seven
were imported by New Taipei-based Bao Hsin Enterprises and eight by Chia
Guang International and Gin Zhan International, which are registered at the
same address in Kaohsiung.

A total of 122,588-kilograms of chili powder and related food products from
the three companies and their downstream food companies have been recalled.