Six Five-Star Hotels in Taiwan Fined for Food Safety Violations

Taipei:Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has imposed fines totaling NT$466,000 (US$14,615) on six five-star hotels for violations concerning food safety and hygiene. According to Focus Taiwan, the penalties were issued following inspections of restaurants across 48 international tourist and five-star hotels to assess compliance with regulations on personnel training, food storage, and hygiene practices. Among the fined hotels, one failed to improve its adherence to good hygienic practice (GHP) principles by the specified deadline. Two hotels breached food labeling rules, and three were found storing expired food products. Additional infractions included issues with the qualifications and training of food safety personnel. Three hotels were fined for not employing qualified professionals, while one did not ensure that certified technicians completed necessary food sanitation and safety training. Another hotel failed to have its professional staff complete Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Poin t (HACCP) training. The Evergreen Plaza Hotel in Tainan received the largest fine, NT$220,000, for five violations across various categories, excluding HACCP training lapses. The Emperor Hotel in Taipei and Janfushan Resort Hotel in Yunlin County were fined for storing expired food. The Miramar Garden Taipei and Nice Prince Hotel in Chiayi City were penalized for not employing qualified professionals. Hotel Cham Cham Tainan faced fines for food labeling violations and not ensuring HACCP training for professional staff. Liu Fang-ming, director of the TFDA's Northern Taiwan Management Center, stated that international tourist hotels and five-star establishments must have at least one restaurant implementing HACCP principles. The inspections reviewed food business registration, adherence to GHP and HACCP standards, food labeling, product liability insurance, expired food items, and the qualifications and training of food safety personnel.