Did Chung Lien's Use of Chinese-Made Equipment Cause Contamination? Taichung City Government: Experts Needed to Clarify

Central News Agency reporter Chao Li-Yen, Taichung, April 4

Regarding whether the use of Chinese-made processing equipment by Chung Lien Oils & Fats Co., Ltd. triggered an oil safety scandal, Taichung City Health Bureau Director Tseng Tzu-chan stated today that the bureau cannot unilaterally determine the cause and will invite relevant experts and scholars to assist in investigating to clarify the true reason.

In the case of excessive benzopyrene (BaP) levels detected in Chung Lien’s oil products, media reports indicate that after Brazilian soybeans arrived at Taichung Port in March this year and were refined, employees at Chung Lien raised concerns, asking, 'Why do the beans look rotten?' Last year, Chung Lien switched to imported Chinese processing equipment due to operational cost considerations.

Tseng told Central News Agency reporters that after the incident, the case was immediately referred to prosecutors. Judicial authorities can demand full documentation from the company through legal procedures and trace the source, whereas the health bureau is limited to administrative investigations. Unlike judicial probes, regulatory agencies lack coercive powers such as search and seizure. Without prosecutorial involvement, many truths could remain concealed.

He added that upon inspection after the incident, no soybeans remained visible at the plant site. The company claimed most products had already been shipped out, leaving only samples available for testing. On-site staff from the Taichung Food and Drug Safety Office also sampled oil from other tanks, with test results coming back compliant. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150804