Can You Even Listen? Dai Wei-Shan Claims 'Benzopyrene in Toxic Oil Is Natural Substance' — Ko Chia-Yu Recounts Scene, Responds with 9-Character Remark

The food safety scandal over Chung Lien Oils' soybean salad oil, which was found to contain benzopyrene levels exceeding safety standards, continues to escalate. On the 20th, Dai Wei-Shan, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilor in New Taipei City, appeared on the program 'News! Can We Ask?' and stated that the chemical benzopyrene was not intentionally added but naturally present in the raw materials. She explained that the substance increases during the drying process, especially after long-distance transportation, and since it occurs naturally in plants, it should be considered a 'natural substance.'

Her remarks were widely criticized as a 'desperate excuse' and 'defending toxic oil.' Critics argued that equating 'natural' with 'safe' is scientifically misleading, especially for a known carcinogen.

Ko Chia-Yu, who was co-hosting the show, responded on the 21st during another political talk show, 'Straight Talk News,' when asked, 'Could you even listen to that?' She replied, 'Much of it was taken out of context.' She clarified that Dai’s intention was to contrast this incident with the 2014 Ting Hsin oil scandal, where illegal gutter oil and recycled oil were deliberately used. In this case, Dai was trying to emphasize that benzopyrene formed during soybean processing rather than being an added contaminant.

Dai further argued that this case is fundamentally different from Ting Hsin, stressing that no illegal additives were involved. Instead, benzopyrene naturally exists in plants and increases during industrial drying. However, experts warn that calling a carcinogen 'natural' risks normalizing its presence, regardless of origin.

Ko emphasized that the priority must be identifying the contamination source. 'We must urgently determine when and where benzopyrene was generated. If it was already present in raw soybeans, then soy milk, tofu, bean curd, and other soy products could all be affected. Tracing the origin is key.'

Additional reports reveal downstream impacts: the Food and Drug Administration has released a list of affected businesses, including well-known brands, sparking public outrage. The scandal has reached 42 schools in Taipei City, prompting criticism from Shen Po-Yang, who accused Mayor Chiang Wan-An of 'passing the buck.' Shen Fu-Hsiung also weighed in on accountability, calling such tactics unwise.

Experts warn that such political framing undermines public understanding of food safety. Referring to carcinogens as 'natural' may erode trust and delay necessary regulatory actions. The incident highlights the tension between scientific accuracy and political messaging in public health crises.