Chung Lien Oil Case: 29 More Businesses in Kaohsiung Affected, Including STASTE, TOBAN-YA, and XUJI

(Central News Agency, Reporter Lin Chia-lien, Kaohsiung, July 8) The case of carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene exceeding standards in Chung Lien edible oil is snowballing. The Kaohsiung City Department of Health today announced an additional 29 businesses, confirming a total of 49 downstream businesses that used the problematic oil. Among them are many well-known catering brands, including STASTE, TOBAN-YA, and Grand Ocean, all of which have been affected.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai stated today that any related products mixed with the problematic oil batch must be removed from shelves to ensure safety.

The Kaohsiung City Department of Health announced the latest inspection results in a press release, stating that an additional 29 downstream businesses were found to have used the problematic oil today. The cumulative number of affected businesses is now 49, all of which have stopped sales and removed products from shelves. Information on the businesses, products, and batch numbers has been released for public inquiry.

According to information from the Department of Health, the newly added list includes many well-known chain restaurants and retail channels. Brands under the three major catering groups, Han-Lai, Wang Steak, and Xiang Bin, were also affected, including STASTE Steak House, TOBAN-YA, Wagyu Shabu, JU Japanese Hot Pot, Pin Tian Ranch, Ee Kai Japanese Cuisine, XUJI, Eatogether, KAI FUN Sichuan Cuisine, Zhen Zhu Taiwan Flavor, Xiang Ya, Han-Lai Hotel, Shang Cai Peking Duck, Liu Liu Sour Cabbage Fish, and Chang Yue, among others.

In addition, some oil products sold at 161 Pxmart stores in Kaohsiung have been removed from shelves. The Department of Health pointed out that the affected products include not only commercial oils in 18-liter and 3-liter containers but also products sold by Pxmart such as Taishan Selected Vegetable Oil, Taishan Good Reason Blended Oil, and Taishan Peanut Flavor Blended Oil. The city government has requested the businesses to handle returns and exchanges.

The Department of Health explained that after the city government's food safety task force learned of the incident on the evening of July 1, it launched a cross-departmental special investigation, prioritizing the inspection of school group meals, hospitals, food courts, restaurants, markets, and night market business districts. Subsequently, based on the supplier lists provided by the health departments of Taichung City and Changhua County, the task force gradually traced second and third-tier downstream businesses and continued to expand the investigation.

The Department of Health stated that as of 10 a.m. today, the food safety task force had inspected 1449 food courts, restaurants, markets, and night market business districts, and newly inspected 227 locations, none of which were found to be using the problematic oil. The city government emphasized that it will continue to monitor the flow of the problematic oil and require relevant businesses to implement product removal and recall. The list of relevant businesses, product information, and batch numbers have been published on the official website of the Department of Health. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150708

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