KMT Legislators Demand Officials Resign Over Zhonglian Oils Scandal; Food Safety Office: No Attachment, We'll Focus on Doing Our Best

Public concern has intensified over benzopyrene超标 in Zhonglian Oils' cooking oil. Today, Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Yang Chih-tou and others petitioned the Executive Yuan, demanding the resignation of relevant officials. Hsu Fu, Director of the Executive Yuan's Food Safety Office, received the petition, stating, 'We won't cling to our positions. If responsibility is due, we will naturally take it. Right now, we will first patch the gaps and fully commit to food safety.'

Executive Yuan Premier Cho Jung-tai ordered all samples of oil products manufactured by Zhonglian to be tested within one week and announced plans to amend the Food Safety Act and its enforcement regulations. Upstream manufacturers will be required to conduct batch-by-batch inspections instead of the current semi-annual self-testing. Additionally, re-listing of products previously removed as a preventive measure will follow three principles: source-based and item-based review.

Yang Chih-tou, along with Taipei City Council candidates Lai Yi-jen, Li Ming-hsuan, Chen Kuan-an; Keelung City Council candidates Lin Yu-te and Chang Chia-hsin; New Taipei City Council candidate Chen Yi-lo; Taoyuan City Council candidate Chiang Kuan-yu; and Taichung City Council candidate Hsu Yu-hsuan, held a press conference titled 'Young Generation of Northern and Central Taiwan Defends Food Safety! The Lai-Zhuo Government is Illegally Negligent!' They filed a complaint with the Control Yuan, accusing Premier Cho Jung-tai, Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chou-liang, TFDA Director General Chiang Chih-kang, and Hsu Fu of dereliction of duty.

Yang expressed regret that the central government failed to safeguard public food safety, instead facilitating loopholes for businesses and conglomerates. He criticized efforts to relist oils previously pulled from shelves as preventive measures, demanding Premier Cho apologize and Minister Shih resign.

After submitting the complaint to the Control Yuan, the group marched to the Executive Yuan, where Hsu Fu personally received their petition. Lai Yi-jen presented a gas station fuel nozzle, urging Premier Cho not to deliver a flippant or misleading report on food safety at the Legislative Yuan later that afternoon.

When asked whether someone should take political responsibility and resign, Hsu responded, 'Food safety is a national concern. The question of who should take responsibility was raised in the Legislative Yuan last week. As the office responsible for food safety management, our priority now is to fully commit to ensuring food safety. We don't cling to our positions—if responsibility is due, we will take it.'

In a later media briefing, Hsu explained that samples collected by the TFDA would be tested within one week. Products could only be re-listed after confirming safety, followed by third-party testing submitted by the manufacturer and final approval from the TFDA. (Edited by Wan Shu-chang) 1150714