Who Decided the '20% Removal Threshold' for Carcinogenic Oil? Chiang Chih-Kang: 'Zhonglian Was Present but Did Not Speak' — I Made the Final Decision

The concealment of carcinogenic oil reports by Zhonglian Oils has triggered a major food safety crisis. On July 4, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened an expert meeting to establish a removal threshold of 20%, mandating that any products containing more than 20% of the contaminated oil be taken off the market. The opposition questioned who made this decision, and FDA Commissioner Chiang Chih-Kang stated during legislative questioning on the 5th that after receiving expert recommendations, 'I made the final determination on the meeting's conclusion.' He emphasized that this was a consensus reached through discussion at the expert meeting.

Kuomintang legislator Chen Jinghui asked during the Health and Environmental Committee session: 'At the July 4 meeting regarding Zhonglian’s carcinogenic oil and the 20% product removal, who ultimately made the decision? Did the Zhonglian representatives present hear the discussion on removal criteria?'

Chiang explained that the meeting focused on two main issues: first, clarifying the Zhonglian oil incident and reviewing the problems in its oil production process, with experts invited to provide further analysis; second, whether to expand preventive removal to second-tier products after removing first-tier products.

Chiang noted that Zhonglian representatives remained present after their presentation until the end of the meeting but did not participate in or speak during the discussion on second-tier product removal standards. Hsu Fu, Director of the Executive Yuan's Food Safety Office, also confirmed that company representatives were present but not given speaking rights, and stressed that the special meeting provided 'recommendations,' not binding decisions.

Regarding who made the final call on the 20% threshold, Chiang stated that international practices typically involve removing only first-tier products, and after expert advice, 'I made the determination on the meeting’s conclusion,' which reflected the consensus reached during the expert discussion.

Later, Taiwan People's Party legislator Chiu Hui-ju pressed further: 'So it was you and Commissioner Chiang who made the final decision?' Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang responded that preventive removal gradually expands in scope—initially targeting contaminated oil products, then expanding preventively—all managed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Chiu questioned: 'So it’s you and Commissioner Chiang making the call?' Shih replied: 'The expansion of removal measures is based on expert recommendations and investigation results. I’ve already stated: I take full responsibility. No problem.'

More exclusive reports from Feng Media: · Carcinogenic oil culprit identified? Zhonglian relaxed soybean standards 'by 10 times'—Shih: 'Oil production process also not properly controlled' · Did Zhonglian executives know about the carcinogenic oil issue in April but still ship products? Chen Chi-mai: 'Unforgivable'—'Unscrupulous companies must be shut down' · Did Taiwan Sugar have a reporting obligation? NTU public health professor analyzes regulations: 'It’s not that simple'—'The Ministry’s view isn’t the only possible interpretation'