Kaohsiung Food Vendor Indicted for Selling Over 12 Tons of Expired Meat

(CNA, Kaohsiung, 19th, by reporter Chang Yi-Lian) The husband and wife team in charge of a Kaohsiung food company, surnamed Hsieh, are suspected of selling expired meat to hotels, restaurants, and small eateries for huge profits. Prosecutors and police seized over 12 tons of expired meat from the company's factory. After concluding the investigation, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office has indicted the couple on charges including violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office issued a press release today explaining that Mr. Hsieh and Ms. Lin are a married couple. Mr. Hsieh is the person in charge of a food company in Renwu District, which is a wholesale supplier of livestock, poultry, and food. The couple jointly managed the company's operations, including meat procurement, sales, and returns.

According to the prosecution's investigation, after Ms. Lin accepted orders and wrote out shipping slips, Mr. Hsieh would give the slips to company employees. He then instructed them to prepare and cut the meat according to the slips, allegedly selling expired meat to hotels, restaurants, and small eateries, thereby endangering consumer food safety and health.

The Ciaotou Prosecutors mentioned that on July 9, 2024, they led judicial police, along with units from the Kaohsiung City Government's Department of Health and the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, to search the company's factory in Renwu District. They seized a total of 12,450 kilograms of expired meat from the freezers and other locations.

Prosecutors believe the Hsieh couple is suspected of violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, committing aggravated fraud by three or more persons, and false labeling of goods. Considering the defendants' denial of the crime and their poor post-offense attitude, prosecutors have requested the court to impose a heavy sentence without probation. They also recommended that the court fine the company NT$5 million and confiscate the seized expired meat. (Editor: Chang Ya-Ching) 1150519