Chung Lien Oils' Carcinogenic Oil Scandal Escalates: Who Is Responsible — Central or Local Government? Writer Exposes Health Ministry Statement as 'Self-Confession' — Lu Hsiu-yen Smiles

The benzopyrene超标 scandal involving Chung Lien Oils' soybean salad oil continues to escalate, with central and local governments clashing over responsibility. Writer Piao Lang Dao Yu posted on Facebook, pointing out that the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) revealed yesterday that the issue stems from the thermal damage rate of imported soybeans. According to the explanation, manufacturers relaxed standards themselves, leading to overheated and dried soybeans ('chou huo gan'), which caused benzopyrene levels to exceed safety limits. This statement not only clarifies the root cause of the toxic oil but also redefines responsibility — since the problem originated with imported soybeans, it falls under upstream source inspection, a central government duty. Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen may now have reason to smile.

Regarding the responsibility for inspection in the carcinogenic oil case, Piao Lang Dao Yu explained that the situation is chaotic, with both sides blaming each other, but accountability can be divided into three stages: upstream source inspection, midstream production audit, and downstream incident management. Currently, the central government (ruling party) claims the fault lies in the midstream phase, accusing Taichung City of failing to conduct proper audits, allowing toxic oil to reach the market. In contrast, local authorities (opposition) focus on the downstream phase, accusing the central government of delaying response and covering up the issue.

However, the MOHW's statement pinpointed the problem to the thermal damage rate of imported soybeans, where manufacturers loosened standards, resulting in overheated soybeans and elevated benzopyrene. This revelation not only uncovers the root cause but also shifts responsibility back to the central government, as upstream source inspection is its jurisdiction.

Piao Lang Dao Yu recalled the 2014 gutter oil scandal, when the then-ruling Kuomintang blamed Kaohsiung City for failing midstream audits. However, Mayor Chen Chu insisted the failure was in upstream source inspection, placing responsibility on the central government. Ultimately, then-Premier Jiang Yi-huah apologized, and the MOHW minister resigned. Now, with the ruling party switched to the DPP, the same blame is being directed at Taichung for midstream failures. Yet, the latest findings show the root cause again lies in upstream inspection failures.

Although current regulations assign upstream inspection of imported soybeans to the central government, there is no specific rule linking soybean moisture content to benzopyrene levels. Thus, while responsibility lies with the central government, the lack of legal provisions necessitates legislative reform. With the July 25 anti-toxic oil protest approaching, opposition candidates' hunger strikes continue, but bizarre statements from ruling party figures — such as 'I drink it myself' and 'benzopyrene is a natural substance' — have only fueled public anger. Now, with the source issue traced back to imported soybeans, responsibility clearly rests with the central government, reigniting public fury — echoing the 2014 scenario that led to the KMT's electoral defeat.

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