Kombucha maker probed over expired ingredients - Taipei Times

The maker of a kombucha brand is under investigation for allegedly relabeling expired products and using expired ingredients, prosecutors in Taoyuan said yesterday.

Chung Chun-jen (鍾淳仁), founder of kombucha brand All Good Gene's (好菌好俊康普茶), and his wife were released on bail of NT$1 million (US$31,461) and NT$300,000 respectively after authorities searched the company's facilities on Friday, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office said.

Prosecutors, working with the Taoyuan Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration, seized 47 items of expired raw materials, as well as semi-finished and finished products, weighing 325.67kg, the office said.

Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office

The public health department said all seized items have been sealed, and the company has been ordered to halt production and sales. A recall has also been initiated, with the firm required to remove the products from shelves by the end of Monday. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to NT$3 million, it said.

Chung, a member of the family behind soy sauce maker Kimlan Foods (金蘭食品), served as the company's chairman in 2005 before stepping down following a family dispute over management control. He later turned to the kombucha sector and founded All Good Gene's.

Investigators said All Good Gene's had admitted using expired materials in its production process.

Authorities also alleged that employees had been instructed to use chemical solvents to remove original expiration labels on cans and reprint new ones to extend shelf life.

Local health authorities across the nation have been asked to assist in overseeing the removal and recall of affected products.

The department said the alleged actions violate Article 15, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 7 and 8 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法) and could entail criminal liability.

If found guilty, they could face up to seven years in prison and fines of up to NT$80 million.