Shih Chung-liang: Benzopyrene Anomaly in Salad Oil Discovered by Downstream Manufacturer Nan-Ya

(CNA, reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, July 2) Benzopyrene, a carcinogen, was found to exceed the limit in salad oil from three major brands. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated that the batch of oil was manufactured in April and passed the manufacturer's self-inspection at the time. Later, downstream manufacturer Nan-Ya discovered the anomaly. Contamination has been preliminarily ruled out, but the cause of the problem in the manufacturing process is still under investigation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced yesterday that it received a report from Zhonglian Oil, which provided a batch of soybean salad oil used by Taishan, Fwusow, and Formosa Oils & Fats. The oil was found to contain 8.1μg/kg of the carcinogen benzopyrene, exceeding the regulated limit of 2.0μg/kg, prompting a recall. A total of 18 product items across 21 batches, approximately 1,300 metric tons, were affected.

Legislator Wang Yu-min of the Kuomintang questioned during a session of the Legislative Yuan's Committee on Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene, where Shih Chung-liang was invited to attend and respond to inquiries, that online information indicates this manufacturer can process up to 3,000 metric tons of soybeans daily and refine 600 metric tons of oil, with an annual output of 210,000 metric tons, making it a very large domestic oil producer. She inquired how much of the 1,300 metric tons of problematic oil has been used, how much has been recalled, and whether the Ministry of Health and Welfare has identified the source of contamination.

Shih Chung-liang explained that this batch of oil was manufactured in April of this year and most of it should have already been sold to the market. A recall has been initiated, but further statistics are needed for the exact quantity. He added that the manufacturer had tested the soybean raw materials and oil in April, and the inspection reports at that time were compliant. However, after a subsequent inspection by a downstream manufacturer, the results were found to be suspected of exceeding the limit, and upon re-examining the remaining raw materials from the first batch, the anomaly was detected.

Shih Chung-liang elaborated that since some time has passed since manufacturing, it is currently being clarified whether the issue is due to the passage of time or a problem in the manufacturing process. The generation of benzopyrene is related to temperature, and it is speculated that it was not caused by contamination but by a problem in the manufacturing process. The FDA has engaged oil experts to jointly research the issue, hoping to clarify which stage of the manufacturing process had a problem. He also requested that the cause be identified and the results be released as soon as possible.

Legislator Lin Shu-fen of the Democratic Progressive Party questioned that in this incident, Zhonglian Oil, the upstream manufacturer, had passed its initial self-inspection. It was only after the oil was sold and re-tested by the downstream manufacturer that the benzopyrene exceeded the limit. She inquired which manufacturer's self-inspection detected this.

FDA Director-General Chiang Tze-hsiang replied that Nan-Ya Group, which produces oil, food, and baked goods, discovered the suspected anomaly. Subsequently, Zhonglian re-inspected the oil remaining at its plant and found it exceeded the limit.

Both Wang Yu-min and Lin Shu-fen proposed increasing inspection frequency based on the supplier's volume, batch, source, and intended use. In response, Shih Chung-liang stated that management measures will be reviewed in conjunction with the investigation results. (Editor: Su Lung-chi) 1150702

Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.