There will be a slight change in regard to the packaging foods at the markets.

According to the Department of Health, besides products that have a low moisture content, most vacuum packaged foods are required to be refrigerated, and should not be on the shelves for more than 10 days.

The new regulation will be effective starting on November 15th.

Frequent incidents of botulism this year, and even one fatality have led the Department of Health to suspect that such poisoning has occurred in dried tofu put in cold vacuum bag storage.

This has led to new provisions in vacuum packaging, mainly in sterilization and water.

New regulations state that only foods that go through commercial sterilization with a PH value greater than 9, or moisture level less than 0.85 in vacuum packaging can be sold at room temperature, otherwise they need to be in cold storage.

As more kinds of foods are available in vacuum packaging, the Department of Health announced that flavored snacks like dried tofu and dried konjac, can be sold at room temperature because of low moisture content .

However, non-sterilized vegetarian chicken, vegetarian ham and dried tofu bean must be chilled for sale, and its expiration date must be limited to 10 days. In the future, the Department of Health may also add a warning that these foods should be heated before eating.

As for vacuum-packed salted, stewed, or spa cooked eggs, unless they also go through commercial sterilization, they cannot be sold at room temperature.

Other vacuum packed tofu that includes added sugar, color retention agents or increased salt concentration, are not included in these regulations which go into action on the 15th of next month.

In addition to facing the potential of a recall, companies violating these rules face the threat of a 300,000 NT$ fine.