December 1, 2025 | Kaohsiung, Taiwan
A routine inspection by the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau has detected traces of enrofloxacin—an antibiotic banned from being present in food—inside “Taiwanese Sea Bream Fillets (Large)” sold at the Chuan Lien Road Zhuzhongzheng Branch. The finding has raised public health concerns, prompting calls for immediate investigation and stricter monitoring.
Enrofloxacin is a veterinary drug prohibited from appearing in edible aquatic products. Hung Tung-jung, Director of the Department of Toxicology at China Medical University Hospital, warned that the substance carries serious health risks. He explained that enrofloxacin can cause neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, and that even standard exposure levels may trigger gastrointestinal distress.
According to Hung, prolonged intake poses greater dangers, including damage to joints, liver and kidney impairment, and potential harm to reproductive cells. Long-term consumption “may lead to infertility,” he cautioned, urging consumers and authorities not to underestimate the risks.
The Taichung City Food Safety Office stated that it has not yet received formal notification about the finding. However, officials pledged that once the report is transmitted, they would immediately launch an investigation into the product’s supply chain and distribution.
Local authorities are expected to follow up with sampling, verification, and potential penalties depending on the results. Consumers who purchased the affected product are advised to stop consumption and await further announcements from health agencies.