The Kaohsiung Department of Health has fined Costco NT$4.5 million (US$146,000) over contaminated frozen strawberries. The Food and Drug Administration said that although the US company had filed an improvement plan, an import suspension on frozen berries could remain.
Three types of frozen berry products imported and sold by Costco have tested positive for the hepatitis A virus since April. The Kaohsiung health department previously fined Costco NT$300,000 for not providing the sales list of a contaminated batch of Kirkland Signature Three Berry Blend imported from Chile, in contravention of the Communicable Disease Control Act. It later fined the company NT$7.5 million over the same batch, for contravening the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.
Food and Drug Administration officials seize packages of frozen berries found to be contaminated with the hepatitis A virus at a Costco store on May 17.
Source: taipeitimes.com