Chung Lien Oil Case Expands: Tai Shan Cooking Oil Found with 2.5 ppb Benzo[a]pyrene, Exceeding Limit

(Central News Agency, Reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, July 8) The case of carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene exceeding the limit in Chung Lien oil products is snowballing. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Shih-chung stated today that late yesterday evening, they received a report that a batch of cooking oil from Tai Shan also tested positive for benzo[a]pyrene at 2.5 ppb, exceeding the limit. Investigations are currently underway to trace the batch number.

Benzo[a]pyrene

The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan today invited the Ministers of Health and Welfare, Education, and Economic Affairs to deliver special reports and be questioned on the topic of "Food Safety Issues Keep Emerging: How to Build a Safe Living and Learning Environment for the Public and Improve Food Factory Safety Management."

When interviewed by the media before the meeting, Hsueh Shih-chung was asked about the latest developments in the incident. He said that due to the continuous requirement for three actions, all previous batches of Chung Lien oil products are being re-examined batch by batch, and owners are required to voluntarily strengthen their inspections. Last night, they received a report that a batch of cooking oil from Tai Shan detected benzo[a]pyrene at 2.5 ppb, exceeding the limit. They are currently tracing the source, and once the specific batch number is identified, it will be announced along with previous findings, following the same procedure.

Regarding the investigation, Hsueh Shih-chung said that judicial investigators have already intervened. They are investigating whether there were any irregularities from the initial report to the oil production process. After announcing all items yesterday, they will continue to re-examine all samples from Chung Lien's production, which was halted from April to the end of June, batch by batch. As soon as the results are available, they will be announced to the public. Similar to yesterday's actions, all products will be recalled or preventively removed from shelves, and information on all items will continue to be published on the Food and Drug Administration's special section.

In response to public questioning about the Ministry of Health and Welfare's changing procedures, Hsueh Shih-chung said that the Food and Drug Administration's decision-making process is in accordance with the law. The first recall of the first tier of oil products was based on the resolution of an expert food safety assessment meeting in 2017. Yesterday, considering operational aspects and to respond more quickly, they first announced a preventive recall, and products will be restocked after passing inspection.

Hsueh Shih-chung added that they will also ask the Food and Drug Administration to send personnel to other oil factories and local health bureaus to strengthen random sampling in the post-market phase to ensure the safety of cooking oil used by the public. (Editor: Su Lung-chi) 1150708

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