Domino's Pizza Faces US Backlash Over Carcinogen Discovery in Sauce
American consumers have pledged to abandon Domino's Pizza after viral social media posts revealed that the chain's marinara sauce tested positive overseas for a carcinogenic chemical linked to pesticide use. The resurgence of a 2024 incident from Taiwan has ignited fresh outrage, with customers declaring boycotts and expressing safety concerns across digital platforms.
Taiwan's FDA Uncovers Ethylene Oxide Contamination
Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected ethylene oxide in Domino's pizza sauce concentrate imported from the United States. This chemical is classified as a human carcinogen by international health authorities and is registered as an antimicrobial pesticide by the US Environmental Protection Agency. While commonly used to sterilise heat-sensitive medical equipment, ethylene oxide is also employed in some nations to treat certain food ingredients like spices.
Ingesting ethylene oxide can cause immediate symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, while long-term exposure has been associated with increased cancer risks. The Taiwanese agency reported finding the substance in 41,888 pounds of Domino's sauce concentrate, with contamination levels described as minimal – roughly equivalent to a tiny grain of salt distributed across approximately 2.2 pounds of sauce.
Divergent International Standards and Regulatory Responses
The discovery highlights significant differences in food safety regulations between nations. Taiwan enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for ethylene oxide in food products, reflecting its classification as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This designation means it is considered a known cancer-causing substance with no permitted residues allowed.
In contrast, the United States permits ethylene oxide use as a postharvest fumigant and antimicrobial agent for certain dried foods, primarily spices, herbs, and similar commodities. US federal regulations establish maximum residue limits rather than zero tolerance, allowing up to 7 parts per million on most foods like dried herbs and spices, with a higher 50 parts per million limit for walnuts.
FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu suggested at the time that the contamination likely originated from spices used in the pizza sauce formulation. Importantly, the affected sauce batch was intercepted before reaching consumers and never entered the market.
Comprehensive Inspection Results and Additional Findings
Between July 2022 and January 2024, Taiwan's FDA submitted 447 batches of Domino's pizza sauce for inspection, with 18 batches (4.03 percent) failing to meet standards. Beyond ethylene oxide, inspectors detected other concerning substances including flunimine (flunixin meglumine) – a potent veterinary anti-inflammatory drug – and sub-quinone, a potentially toxic chemical compound that can form from pesticide breakdown or processing.
Toxicology researcher Yen Tzung-hai from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital emphasised that ethylene oxide is recognised as a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization, noting that only a small number of countries including the US and Canada still permit its use for sterilising products like spices and sesame seeds.
Corporate Response and Ongoing Safety Measures
Domino's released a statement in 2024 asserting: 'This is the first time such a substance has been detected in products we use, and we ensure it will be the last time.' The company promptly suspended use of the affected sauce in Taiwan, replacing it with locally produced alternatives across all Taiwanese stores.
Following the incident, Taiwan's FDA shifted from random sampling to enhanced, targeted inspections for similar products to prevent future contamination issues. Domino's has emphasised its commitment to food safety and ongoing collaboration with suppliers to maintain rigorous standards.
Despite these assurances and the fact that contaminated products never reached consumers, the revived social media discussion has triggered significant brand damage and consumer distrust, particularly among American customers learning about the incident for the first time through viral posts.
