Heavy metals found in all goji berry products sampled in survey

Heavy metals found in all goji berry products sampled in survey

2025-08-18

And as goji berries trend again as a health food, many people are stocking up on them to add to tea and soups or to eat as a snack. But a recent survey on 30 goji berry products available in the market found heavy metals were present in every single sample.

The survey was conducted by the Consumer Protection Association in Taiwan. Six of the samples seriously exceeded permitted levels, and even products marketed as “organic” were found to contain heavy metals. Taiwan imports around 90% of its goji berry products from China. Experts say that in small amounts, eating them should not pose a problem. But pregnant women, young children and people with chronic illnesses should wash the berries thoroughly before consuming.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#gojiberry #healthfood #heavymetal #foodsafety

養生反傷身! 消保會抽檢30件市售枸杞全驗出"重金屬"

2025-08-18

近年來枸杞因為養生風潮越來越受歡迎，不少民眾長期拿來泡茶、燉湯或直接當零嘴，但台灣消保協會抽樣市售30件枸杞，竟然全數驗出含有重金屬。

其中有6件已經嚴重超標，就連標榜有機產品也沒躲過。台灣沒有生產枸杞果肉，9成以上都從中國進口。專家建議，枸杞要吃可以，微量食用，身體還能負荷，如果是孕婦、幼兒、慢性疾病患者，攝取時盡可能用水清洗。

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A hike on Mt. Kelekele’an went terribly wrong last week for a group of three hikers. An 8-year-old boy, his 70-year-old grandpa and a 63-year-old friend had set off on a 9-day expedition on Aug. 8. But they ended up stranded on the mountain on Aug. 12 due to Typhoon Podul. They set up camp but things only got worse. Four days after the typhoon, a call was made to rescuers, who dispatched a helicopter to bring them down. The two adults, however, were already in a coma due to hypothermia, and only the boy survived.

A rescuer carries an 8-year-old boy to the helicopter that has just landed in the mountain. His grandpa and another companion have already been loaded to be taken to the hospital.

Upon landing, the boy and rescuers run straight toward the ambulance. The two adults have to be carried on stretchers, as they had fallen into a coma due to hypothermia. Despite resuscitation efforts later at the hospital, they could not be saved.

Footage shows that the boy’s blue jacket was dry and clean when rescuers found him.

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
He said their tent got a hole that night, and exposed them to the rain and wind, and so they held the tent down with their weight. But later the tent got blown down and they had to take shelter from the wind. That’s where he stayed for some time.

The boy said he hadn’t eaten anything while in hiding and only drank about 600ml of water.

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
We asked him what they ate over the past few days, and he said he had some water and some sweets.

Who raised the alarm? The boy, or someone else?

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
He didn’t know how to unlock his grandpa’s phone, so he called 119. There’s no signal in most places, but he apparently remembered his grandpa mentioning that there was a spot with signal, so he went to that spot.

The boy couldn’t unlock the phone, so his only option was an emergency call.

Experts say that weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains, so if you’re going on a hike, make thorough preparations before heading out.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Passengers question streamlined MRT display as potentially confusing

The marquee display boards on the Taipei MRT have often been a target of criticism for showing too much text, making it easy for passengers to miss their stop. The MRT operator recently made a slight change to the display, but now passengers are saying it might be too simplified. For instance, the “Xindian Line” is now just the “Green Line.” Critics say it misses the point, and now international travelers might get confused.

Before the train arrives at the station, information in Chinese and English scrolls by on the electronic display boards above the doors. For people immersed in their phones or listening to music, it’s hard to know the station at a glance. Especially when it’s crowded, it’s hard to see the signs inside the station. The situation has led to many complaints that it’s easy to miss your stop.

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Whenever I look up, it’s showing other information. I looked for a while, because I was waiting for the station name.

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No one will look at the information. You can say all you want, but what I need is the essential info. When it’s essential, I want to see it right away.

Kao Tzu-han
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The newly redesigned display is being trialed along the Orange Line, featuring shorter messages. But for transfer information, it now just shows the color of the line. Passengers worry it might be confusing.

Transfer information on the old display features the full name of the line, as well as some courtesy words, totaling 13 characters in all. The new message is much shorter, showing only the name of the stop with the color of the transfer line. Although it’s much simpler, passengers are worried that just saying the color might be confusing.

Passenger
For example, at this station we get a lot of travelers from Japan or other places who might not know how to make the transfer.

Passenger
When travelers come here for the first time, they navigate from their phone or online. So of course it won’t be very clear unless someone shows them.

Passenger
Now there are maps everywhere. It’s very convenient. No matter the line, there are maps to look at.

The MRT said it will collect public feedback during the trial period for the simplified transfer message, and continue to make adjustments before deciding whether to roll it out system-wide.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Paddleboarders dress up for journey out to Keelung Island

Water sports in Taiwan are getting more popular by the day. For three years running, a group has organized a stand-up paddleboard journey out to Keelung Island. For many, the event has become an annual pilgrimage. Lots of participants will even dress up in eye-catching costumes. But safety is still the priority—no matter the costume, everyone needs to use the safety leash.

At the sound of the whistle, people take up their paddleboards and file onto the water. They’re setting off on a stand-up paddleboard trip out to Keelung Island and back.

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It’s amazing, incredible. People don’t really go to the beach in Taiwan, so it’s basically empty. It’s great.

Mr. Wu
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It’s very calm out there today. Without wind or waves, it’s extremely safe. If the waves are too big, you might run into reefs and it could be dangerous.

The participants also had fun dressing up. Aside from the usual bikinis, this person dressed up as a Playboy bunny. There was even a Ronald McDonald.

Mr. Chuang
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I’m just a regular attendee. No one wants to take my picture. I need to do something a little more special, then there will be lots of photos. Everyone takes this sport so seriously. You need a fun atmosphere where you can let off some steam.

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The first time I was Uncle Ronald McDonald! But by the second time I was already just uncle.

For a water activity like SUP, more important than the costume contest is safety. This ankle leash is the lifeline for any paddleboarder.

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The SUP board is 20 times the size of the rescue buoy used during the Sun Moon Lake swim. Even if five people climb on, it won’t sink. As long as you don’t leave your board, you’ll be safe. So the ankle leash is our lifeline, even more important than a lifejacket.

This activity where people can stay safe while having fun out on the open water is the brainchild of two water sports enthusiasts, who hope that they can get people to experience a different side of the ocean and foster a love for the sea.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
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YouTubers fined NT$10,000 for releasing sky lantern from train tracks

The sky lantern experience on Pingxi Old Street in New Taipei is a tourist must-do that’s said to make your wishes come true. You’ve probably also seen pictures of tourists cheerfully make their wishes upon a sky lantern from the train tracks. But turns out that’s actually illegal, and there are signs along the tracks warning visitors against the practice. A husband-and-wife travel content creator ended up getting fined NT$10,000 after someone saw their video and reported them. They’ve since made another video to urge others to take caution.

They take pictures next to the railway tracks, as sky lanterns are set to the skies. Tourists flock to Pingxi for the experience. But they have to be careful to not break the law.
The creators of caitaitai945, a travel YouTube channel, took the whole family of four to release a sky lantern on Pingxi Old Street in New Taipei and even made a video. However, the cherished memory ended up costing them NT$10,000. Turns out someone who saw the video reported them for releasing a sky lantern on the railway tracks, which is prohibited.

caitaitai945
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The government keeps promoting the sky lantern experience as a tourist must-do, and how this place is very special and suitable for all visitors, domestic and international alike. Even CNN did a report on it. People aren’t aware that releasing a sky lantern from the train tracks is illegal.

The husband and wife said they were shocked when they received the hefty fine. Soon after that, they made a follow-up video to caution others from making the same mistake.

A quick look of Pingxi Old Street shows many visitors releasing sky lanterns while standing on the railway tracks, despite “No Entry” signs. The Chinese also says that according to the Railway Act, trespassers could be fined between NT$10,000 to NT$50,000.

Member of public
Safety is more important, so we’re not against the ban.

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I think it’s more traditional and feels more authentic and quaint to do it on the tracks. But if it might cause traffic accidents, then I also think visitors should decide for themselves.

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If there’s an accident on the tracks, it has nothing at all to do with sky lanterns. What we do is we tell customers to wait until the train has passed, and then we’ll go down to the tracks.

The seller insists that no accidents have ever happened because they had customers release sky lanterns from the tracks. But now that they’re made aware that the practice is illegal, they could only comply with regulations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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