Taiwan to crack down on problem starch  

综述：毒淀粉事件延烧 台湾食品安全再受关注

继2011年的“塑化剂”风波后，一个新名词“顺丁烯二酸”近日被台湾民众熟悉。

Beijing (CNS) -- Taiwan's health bureau will crack down on starch tainted with maleic acid, an unapproved additive that can cause kidney damage.

A statement issued on Monday by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said it has tested 66 starch-based products from Taiwan and found maleic acid in 11 of them.

Retailers that sold the problematic starch products have been ordered to withdraw them from shelves.

Since the exposure of the tainted starch case in Taiwan's Jiayi county in March, inspections of starch products were done across Taiwan.

A total of 200 metric tons of products and food materials containing maleic acid have been seized by local health departments.

Campaign "0527 Food Safety Project" was launched by the health bureau on Monday. Under the campaign, the department will do an overall inspection of starch factories across the region.

Several local departments, including administrative, environment protection and consumer protection, will also join in the crackdown.