Taichung Announces New Batches of Problematic Cooking Oil Used by Breweries, KTVs, and Schools

(Central News Agency, reporter Chao Li-yen, Taichung, July 3) Zhonglian Oil's soybean salad oil exceeded the limit for "benzopyrene." The Taichung City Government announced today that the number of problematic oil batches has increased to 30, with craft beer restaurants and KTVs among those affected. In Taichung, 24 schools, multiple social welfare institutions, and one postpartum care center used the problematic oil.

The Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare received a report from Zhonglian Oil Co., Ltd. on July 1st. A batch of soybean salad oil raw material, approximately 1,300 metric tons, supplied to companies such as Fwusow Industry Co., Ltd., Fwumao Oils and Fats, and Tai Shan Enterprise, was found to have carcinogenic "benzopyrene" content exceeding the regulatory limit. This has affected 18 products and led to the recall of 30 batches.

The Taichung City Food Safety Office investigated and stated that the number of oil batches increased from 22 to 30 today.

The Food Safety Office's press release indicated that Fwumao's shipments were supplied to 138 businesses nationwide, and Fwusow's shipments to businesses have increased to 149. These include Gourmet Food Supply Chain (New Taipei), Ministry of National Defense Welfare Business Management Department (Taipei), Maisy's (Fangyuan, Changhua), Goldenoak (Sanchong, New Taipei), Noble Family (New Taipei), among others. Additionally, Tai Shan Enterprise shipped to 13 downstream businesses in Taichung, including Holiday KTV (Dali Branch) and several oil distributors.

The Food Safety Office statistics show that 53 downstream businesses in Taichung City had previously purchased the oil. The problematic oil has been removed from shelves and is currently being recalled. Personnel have been dispatched to inspect stores and end-point sales channels to prevent the continued circulation of problematic products.

The Taichung City Government's inventory revealed that 6 community care centers under the Social Affairs Bureau, 3 elderly welfare institutions, 2 disability welfare institutions, and 1 child and adolescent placement institution had used the problematic cooking oil, all of which have since ceased its use. Among the 159 medical and care institutions in the city, one postpartum care center that outsourced its meal services had used related oil products.

The Education Bureau stated that in response to the newly added problematic oil batches, a comprehensive investigation into the use of school lunches was conducted. It was confirmed that 2 group meal providers had used related oil products between April and June, supplying 7 senior high schools, 4 junior high schools, 13 elementary schools, and 1 experimental education institution, totaling 24 schools and 1 experimental education institution. The providers have been instructed to stop using the oil.

The city government's inter-departmental teams continue to inspect various channels. All products have been removed from shelves according to regulations. Fwusow has cumulatively recovered 5,873 kg, Fwumao has recovered 7,758 kg, and the recovery kilograms for Tai Shan are being tracked by the source county government in Changhua. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150703

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