Taipei Orders 34 Businesses to Recall Zhonglian Oil Products, Including Hu Xu Zhang and Hai Wang Ba

(Central News Agency reporter Yang Shu-min, Taipei, July 14) Regarding the Zhonglian oil scandal, Taipei City's Health Department announced today that it has ordered 34 businesses to remove contaminated oil products from shelves. This includes 17 newly identified operators from the fourth and fifth batches of problematic oil products provided by Taichung City's Food Safety Office, as well as 17 additional businesses in Taipei that Taisun Corporation publicly listed on its website as recipients of shipments.

Affected companies include Fubon Media Technology, Hu Xu Zhang, and Hai Wang Ba. The health department stated that in response to the discovery of benzo[a]pyrene levels exceeding safety standards in Zhonglian soybean salad oil, it has identified 17 new affected businesses in Taipei based on the fourth and fifth batches of data from Taichung’s food safety authorities. Inspections are scheduled for tomorrow, but removal orders have already been issued today. The list includes Fubon Media Technology Co., Ltd.

Additionally, although the central government has not yet released the full downstream distribution list for Taisun Corporation, the Taipei health authorities have acted on Taisun’s official website disclosure of 17 chain outlets in Taipei that received shipments. These outlets have already been inspected and ordered to remove products. The list includes Hai Wang Ba - North District Store, Hu Xu Zhang - A061 Taipei Tianmu Store, and Tim Ho Wan - Taipei Xinyi.

Regarding school food safety, the Department of Education has added one more catering company (First Lunch Box Co., Ltd.) to its monitoring list, bringing the total to nine. The number of affected schools has increased by 24, totaling 88 schools. All schools have completed inventory checks and sealed off the contaminated oil products, and have been instructed to notify parents.

The 24 newly added schools include Gongguan Elementary School, Quanyuan Experimental Elementary School, Yucheng Elementary School, Chengde Elementary School, Xiude Elementary School, Jiuzhuang Elementary School, Hushih Elementary School, Nangang Elementary School, Dongxin Elementary School, Zhongzheng Junior High School, Hongdao Junior High School, Daan Junior High School, Shilin Junior High School, Lanzhou Junior High School, Jinhua Junior High School, Dunhua Junior High School, Jieshou Junior High School, Dazhi Senior High School, Minsheng Junior High School, Jen-Ai Junior High School, Minghu Junior High School, Yang Ming Senior High School, Private Yuda Senior High School, and National Political University Affiliated High School.

Furthermore, starting September 1, the Department of Education will increase the number of unscheduled inspections by at least 30 annually. It will also implement monthly random testing of edible oils, with samples sent by the Health Department to third-party laboratories for testing of heavy metals and benzo[a]pyrene levels to strengthen food safety. The department urges the central government to promptly release complete product distribution trails, investigation results, and test data, rather than forcing local authorities to rely solely on company websites. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150714