Two batches containing almost six tonnes of cherries imported from the US to Taiwan were found to contain the pesticide malathion, according to the Taiwan Department of Health (DOH).
Director of the DOH's Food and Drug Administration Pan Chih-kuan said the two batches contained 0.02 and 0.03 parts per million of the substance, while Taiwanese laws do not permit any trace.
Two separate importers want to have the batches reassessed and if the chemical is found again in the first batch it will be returned to the shipper. If the second batch, which has been released to the importer, is found to contain the substance it will have to be destroyed, Focus Taiwan reported.
Mr Pan said that should a third batch of cherries fail examination this year, Taiwan will ask the US to put measures in place to deal with the problem.
"We will also step up the examination of all cherries imported from the US," he said.
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