Hsinchu mayor defends delayed disclosure of formaldehyde‑contaminated noodle powder

In late May, the Tainan City Health Bureau alerted Hsinchu authorities that Minghao Enterprise had produced "Nongeng" brand noodle powder contaminated with formaldehyde, a substance prohibited in food. The Hsinchu Health Bureau, together with Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration, inspected the factory and initially found no illegal additive, but subsequent testing of six product batches—including different labels—confirmed the presence of formaldehyde.

Mayor Gao Hong-an posted on Facebook to explain that the city government acted immediately after the May notification: it launched a food‑safety response, ordered a full recall of the affected batches, expanded testing to other products, suspended production, and imposed administrative penalties under the Food Safety and Hygiene Management Act. She emphasized that there was no concealment or delay, that the recall and investigation complied with central regulations, and that the agency will strengthen oversight and increase inspection frequency to protect public health and the reputation of Hsinchu's noodle‑flour industry.