Central Union Oil Contamination Risk Widens, Kaohsiung City Orders Full Preventive Removal

(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, July 9) Carcinogen-tainted cooking oil has spread across Taiwan. The Kaohsiung City Department of Health stated that another batch of Taishan products also exceeded the limit for benzopyrene, indicating an expanded risk in this case. Mayor Chen Chi-mai instructed today that all 18 high-risk oil products announced by the central government and products mixed with Central Union blended oil be preemptively removed from shelves.

The Department of Health issued a press release today stating that the soybean salad oil supplied by Central Union Oil to companies such as Taishan, Formosa Oils & Fats, and Fwusow, after previously being found to exceed the limit for the carcinogen benzopyrene, has now had another batch of Taishan products found to be over the limit. The raw material for this batch also came from the same production line of Central Union Oil in May.

Chen Chi-mai demanded today that all 18 high-risk oil products announced by the central government and products mixed with Central Union blended oil must cease sales, usage, and be removed from shelves by midnight on July 10, regardless of batch number, specifications, expiration date, or sales channel. They can only be restocked after the companies provide proof of qualified inspection.

The Department of Health stated that the new inspection results show the problem is no longer limited to a single production date or batch number but extends to different batches of products. This implies that the raw oil from the same production line may have food safety concerns. The city government is taking preventive measures to remove products from shelves in accordance with the "Food Safety and Sanitation Act" to reduce food safety risks.

Chen Chi-mai stated that there are no gray areas in food safety, nor can companies be allowed to segment risks by product item or batch number. Since products from different batches are related to the raw oil from the same production line of Central Union, the strictest standards should be applied.

The Department of Health pointed out that all food businesses within its jurisdiction must immediately stop selling, stop providing meals, stop processing, and stop using these products starting today. All existing inventory must be removed and sealed, with complete records of incoming and outgoing goods, returns, inventory, and usage maintained. Downstream businesses and consumers must also be notified to handle returns and exchanges. Circumvention of inspections by reasons such as repackaging, relabeling, reselling, or different batch numbers is not permitted.

The Department of Health stated that companies such as Taishan, Formosa Oils & Fats, and Fwusow must provide qualified inspection reports from third-party standard laboratories, or have their safety confirmed by central or local competent authorities, before these products can be restocked. The city government also suggests that central and local competent authorities comprehensively seal inventory oil products from Central Union and related companies and complete inspections to clarify risks as soon as possible. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150709

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