The government made the move after three shipments of salinized bamboo shoots imported from Vietnam late last year, totaling 135.96 tons, were found to have bleaching agent residue levels exceeding the maximum residue level allowed by law, the official said.

The products were imported by a local trading company in three batches, which recorded 0.22, 0.72 and 0.27 gram of the residue per kilogram of bamboo shoot, respectively, — higher than the legal level of 0.03 gram per kilogram of bamboo shoot, the official said.

Fortunately, the substandard products have not been put on sale in the local market, said the official.

The products are popular in Taiwan and are used in stir-fried dishes usually with pork.

The official noted that the bureau will step up inspections of Vietnamese salinized bamboo shoot imports to ensure consumers’ safety.