TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Yu Zong Foods Co., the parent company of popular snack Hsia Wei Hsien, issued an apology on Wednesday (Feb. 21) after traces of Sudan III were found in their product. Yu Zong Foods emphasized that they, too, were victims in this incident and pledged full cooperation with health authorities in their investigations.
The Department of Health, Kaohsiung City Government, received a notification on Monday afternoon stating that Sudan III, an industrial dye, was detected in a shipment of chili powder weighing 1,737 kilograms produced by Chiseng Hong LTD. Approximately 8 kilograms of the contaminated chili powder were supplied to Yu Zong Foods.
Yu Zong Foods apologized for the incident once they received the notification from the health department and assured that they would cooperate with the department during the investigation.
The company stated that the product that used the contaminated ingredient was "Hsia Wei Hsien - Spicy flavor." The batch, whose expiry dates ranged from Sept. 8, 2024, to Oct. 2, 2024, has since been removed from shelves and recalled.
Yu Zong Foods informed customers who purchased the suspicious batch of products (with expiry dates between Sept. 8 and Oct. 2, 2024) could apply for a refund or exchange from dealers with their receipt until March 31.
Yu Zong Foods clarified that only batches of “Hsia Wei Hsien – Spicy Flavor” were affected and ensured customers can consume other products from their brand safely. The company further announced that they will be more thorough in their selection of suppliers and manufacturers to ensure food safety.