Half-beef half-pork sold as 100% beef jerky, CPC finds

According to the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), 15 percent of inspected beef jerky sold in Taiwan is made largely from pork meat.

Among the 40 checked products, six were more than 50 percent pork, said CPC Official, Wu Cheng-hsueh (吳政學). The samples were collected from wholesalers, traditional markets and meat vendors in Taipei County, Taichung City, Tainan County, Kaohsiung City and Hualien County.

The six half-beef, half-pork products are sold at Ta Yang Meat Floss (大祥肉鬆), Chen Te-hsinghang (陳德興行), Chien Fa-hang (問發行) and Hsin Feng-chenhang (新芳珍行). These retailers could face fines of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000, said Wu.

In addition, 17.5 percent of the checked beef jerky contained amounts of preservative that exceeded the regulated level, said Wu. He added violators could receive fines of between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000.

According to another CPC official, Chang Yu-lin, the average market price of beef jerky is around NT$500,— double that of pork jerky.

In response to the CPC's inspection, the Taipei City's Department of Health conducted a similar check on beef jerky. All 20 items passed the test as 100 percent beef-made, said the city's health official, Chaing Yu-mei, yesterday.

She added that only one product contained preservative above the regulated level. All samples came from traditional markets, supermarkets and wholesalers in Taipei.

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