Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s HHS faces a major test as a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak sickens thousands across the U.S., exposing a fragile food safety system. Experts blame chronic underfunding, budget cuts, and personnel turnover for hampering the response and eroding public trust, despite agency assurances.
South Korean prosecutors have requested a one-year prison sentence and a 20m won fine for the owner of a two-Michelin-starred Seoul restaurant. The charges stem from violating food sanitation laws by serving desserts topped with ants, an insect not approved for consumption under local regulations.
The anonymous owner of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea faces a one-year jail term for violating food safety regulations by serving black ants on sorbet. Seoul prosecutors requested the prison term, as only 10 insect species are approved for human consumption under South Korean law, and the ants were imported.
Taiwan's government plans to amend food safety laws, increasing fines up to NT$30 million for breaches and clarifying central and local government responsibilities. This follows the discovery of excessive benzopyrene in Central Union Oil Corp's products, prompting stricter regulations on reporting and product recalls.
![Soybean Salad Oil Contaminated with Benzo[a]pyrene in Taiwan, Recall Initiated](/api/img?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.i-scmp.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2F1280x720%2Fpublic%2Fd8%2Fimages%2Fcanvas%2F2026%2F07%2F18%2F05924525-2cb4-4278-bb18-983bdc754d11_e55c8437.jpg%3Fitok%3DeSvdvxp2%26v%3D1784351802&w=800&q=72&f=webp)
Central Union Oil Corporation's soybean salad oil was found to contain excessive benzo[a]pyrene by Namchow Group, leading to a recall. The contamination, affecting 28,992 tonnes, was reported late to regulators, and the government also delayed its public announcement.
所有與中聯油脂製造的受污染食用油相關的產品，必須在今天中午前從貨架上移除。衛生福利部部長石崇良表示，超過此時間點仍在架上的產品將可安全食用，但違規業者將面臨嚴厲處罰。
FSSAI issued notices to alcoholic beverage manufacturers in India for violating regulations by using added flavours mimicking natural profiles and making misleading age-related claims.
India's food safety regulator, FSSAI, has issued show-cause notices to Lotte India, Ferns N Petals, and Kubera Foods for alleged misleading claims on product packaging. The notices cite discrepancies between front-of-pack labels and actual product contents, with companies given seven days to respond.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Malaysia to enhance economic cooperation and address border issues. The leaders agreed to develop a special border economic zone and signed an agricultural cooperation MoU. The visit occurs amid heightened security concerns due to the separatist insurgency in southern Thailand.
The state FDA suspended the food license of Mumbai's K Rustom & Co ice cream parlour due to serious hygiene violations, including rats, houseflies, and expired products. The iconic establishment faces suspension until deficiencies are rectified.
Telangana's Food Safety Department found five establishments violating a ban on raw egg mayonnaise. 10 kg was seized and destroyed, with proceedings initiated against violators. The ban aims to prevent food poisoning risks like Salmonella.
Safari Plaza Restaurant in Abu Dhabi has been ordered closed by authorities due to repeated food safety violations posing a threat to public health. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) cited non-compliance with regulations and failure to address previous violations.
Malaysia received a completed food safety standards questionnaire from Thailand, a key step towards potentially lifting its ban on five species of Thai shrimp imposed on June 1. The ban was a response to Thailand's increased inspections of Malaysian sea bass.
A three-year-old boy swallowed metal wires from a cake topper, leading to a hospital visit. Following the incident, India's food regulator FSSAI has ordered an immediate halt to the use of metallic pins and wires in food products and packaging.
Hong Kong will permit dogs in 1,000 restaurants from July 9, a scheme expected to boost business by up to 20%. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department selected the eateries via a ballot, with successful applicants including diverse restaurant types across various districts.
Food safety officials in Gujarat's Mehsana seized a large stock of rotten mangoes at a juice production facility. The FSSAI shared footage showing the spoiled fruits, infested with worms and fungus, intended for juice extraction. Action has been taken against the violators.
Chinese authorities are cracking down on "ghost kitchens" - restaurants listed on apps but lacking physical locations - due to food safety concerns. New regulations require apps to verify licenses and addresses, as thousands of these phantom eateries are being investigated.
China is tightening regulations on food delivery apps, requiring verification of restaurant licenses and addresses to combat "ghost kitchens." These virtual eateries, operating without physical storefronts, have raised food safety alarms, leading to fines and new rules mandating that online listings match real locations.
China has released 1,750 national food safety standards with over 20,000 indicators, covering 340+ food categories. These standards ensure safety from raw materials to consumption, focusing on risk management, raw material control, and production processes.
Spain's food safety agency (Aesan) has alerted consumers to the presence of undeclared sildenafil, a sexual stimulant, in the 'Pro V male sexual performance enhancer' supplement. The agency warns of potential adverse reactions and advises against consumption.
A Hong Kong sushi restaurant has apologised after a customer spotted a threadlike parasite crawling out of a piece of sashimi, triggering widespread food safety concerns across social media. Popular Japanese chain Gatten Sushi, which debuted in the city in September 2024, issued an apology on social media on Tuesday after footage of the incident at its Causeway Bay branch went viral. The video, shared by a diner on Threads, shows a thin, white parasite emerging from a piece of golden eye snapper...
Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has urged people with gluten allergies to avoid a Marks & Spencer authentic vanilla Greek yoghurt product after gluten was found but not declared on the label. The affected 500g batch has a use-by date of May 12 and was imported by Alf Retail Hong Kong Limited, which has voluntarily stopped sales and initiated a recall.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has levied more than 3.6 billion yuan (US$527.3 million) in fines on seven e-commerce and food delivery platforms and their representatives following an investigation, the regulator announced on Friday. SAMR said the seven platforms, which included retail and food delivery mainstays Pinduoduo (PDD), Meituan and JD.com, failed to properly verify food vendor licences and knowingly allowed unverified “ghost” catering services to operate. The...
