Lin Jingyi Fires Back at Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen: 'Do You Really Think Crude Degummed Oil Is Edible?' Presents Refining Process Chart in Support of Taisugar

Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen has repeatedly questioned whether Taisugar should have reported the benzopyrene controversy. In response, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Jingyi posted on Facebook today (4th) an article titled 'One Chart to Clearly Show at Which Stage of the Soybean Salad Oil Production Process Taisugar Rejected That Batch of Crude Oil.' Subsequently, in media interviews, she directly retorted, 'Do you really think that crude degummed oil is edible?' If Taichung truly believes this, then has Taichung tested the raw materials from Zhonglian?

Lin Jingyi first posted on Facebook: 'One Chart to Clearly Show at Which Stage of the Soybean Salad Oil Production Process Taisugar Rejected That Batch of Crude Oil,' presenting a flowchart that illustrates how crude degummed oil undergoes at least ten processes—including degumming and deodorization—before becoming edible oil. She pointed out that criticizing 'crude degummed oil,' which is traded during the manufacturing process, as if it were a finished edible oil product, is a significant misrepresentation.

In her post, Lin stated two conclusions from this incident: First, Taisugar uses the benzopyrene standard for edible oils to inspect refined raw materials, which is why their final products consistently meet safety standards. Second, if there is genuine concern for edible oil safety, why have local authorities only tested Zhonglian's materials during special Food and Drug Administration (FDA) projects, and not otherwise over the years?

Deputy Minister Lin Jingyi emphasized, by presenting the soybean oil refining process, that the crude degummed oil (crude fat) rejected by Taisugar is not edible and therefore does not require benzopyrene reporting. (Source: Lin Jingyi's Facebook)

Later, during a joint media interview, Lin explained that her chart was meant to show clearly: 'Do you really think that crude degummed oil is edible?' If Taichung believes intermediate raw materials should be reported, then has Taichung actually tested Zhonglian's raw materials for benzopyrene?

Lin criticized comparisons to the Sudan Red food safety scandal as unreasonable. Sudan Red should never appear at any point in raw materials or production processes—it is an illegal additive—so its detection at any stage is unacceptable.

But benzopyrene is different, Lin explained. Benzopyrene can naturally form during high-temperature processing and can be removed through refining. She reiterated: the central government's benzopyrene standard applies to edible oils, not intermediate raw materials. Experts have also stated that benzopyrene may naturally occur at high temperatures, which is precisely why refining processes such as degumming and deodorization are necessary to remove it.

Lin also responded to external criticism that the FDA and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are misinterpreting the definition of 'food' in the Food Safety Act. She emphasized that legally, Sudan Red must not appear in raw materials at all, whereas benzopyrene may form in oilseed raw materials due to temperature, which is why refining is required to meet edible safety standards.