After a rice-based steamed noodle product from Hsinchu tested positive for formaldehyde, the Taipei City Department of Health expanded its inspections. The good news is that the major retailers were not selling the problematic product, so for consumers it turned out to be a false alarm.

• Hsinchu-based Minghao Enterprise's "Nonggeng brand Zhuoshui steamed rice noodles" were found to contain formaldehyde, a chemical substance that should not be present in food.
• The Taipei City Department of Health has already carried out inspections at Xiaobei Department Store, where no problematic products were found on site, and the operator carried out a full recall regardless of batch number.
• Costco, PX Mart, A.mart, and Family Mall — all four major retail chains — confirmed that they do not sell the problematic product.
• Although A.mart had previously sold other batches of products from the company, it took them off the shelves as a precaution at the end of July.
• The Department of Health has simultaneously launched a special project, sampling and testing 30 items of pure rice noodles, blended rice noodles, and steamed rice noodles on the market, with the results yet to be announced.

Outlook: The test results will be released in succession, and the Department of Health will set up a "steamed rice noodle section" on its official website to publish the progress of inspections and testing.