Goji berries will still be imported from China despite Taiwanese authorities looking into claims that dangerous pesticides were used in their production.  ,
Two goji berry sellers in China, Yue Hwa and Hockhua, both of whom sell them around, told CNA that their products have been subject to quality control and laboratory testing, making them safe to consume.
The state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday ( Sep 1 ) that the northern Qinghai and Gansu provinces ‘ excessive use of sodium metabisulfite as a color enhancer.  ,
Goji berries, also known as wolfberries, are often used in traditional Chinese medicine and are said to be great for liver and kidney features. China is a major supplier of goji fruit; the Ningxia place exported 1, 331.2 tonnes of the fruit in the first four weeks of 2024, an increase of 15.3 % year over year, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Tests on dried goji berries in Singapore have been” satisfactory” so far, the Singapore Food Agency ( SFA ) said on Tuesday, in response to CNA’s queries.
It further stated that dried fruit can be prepared with specified limitations and that several sulfites, including metabisulfites, are worldwide acceptable food substances.
Both Yue Hwa and Hockhua claimed to be aware of the ongoing research in China.
Our goji berries are never impacted by this issue, according to Yue Hwa, a store with a focus on Chinese goods. It added , that , its rm berries are sourced from Ningxia, away from the regions currently under investigation.
” We have often chosen to be proactive rather than reactive.” Before any products reach our stores, they undergo rigorous quality control (QC ) testing at our Hong Kong headquarters”.
It added that it conducts the testing frequently, regardless of outside circumstances.
Its past QC exam, conducted in May 2024,” confirmed” that no hazardous substances were found in its goji fruit, it said.  ,
Therefore, it is not anticipating that China’s decision to continue selling rm fruit will change.
Yue Hwa, which has three stores in Singapore, said,” We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make sure our products comply with all health and quality norms.”  ,
Hockhua, which sells Taiwanese health products in close to 80 locations in Singapore and Malaysia, said it only imports products from trustworthy manufacturers and that it only sells goji berries legally.
For each sample, a laboratory test result may be required. We often conduct strange laboratory tests on our present stocks, it said.
CNA has even reached out to other major supermarket chains and shops.