Central Union Oil Fined US$5M for Hiding Carcinogen-Tainted Oil
Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration has hit Central Union Oil Corporation with a massive US$5 million fine after the company deliberately covered up a batch of soybean oil contaminated with the Group-1 carcinogen benzopyrene. The toxic oil has already been used in school lunch programs and local restaurants across major cities. In addition to the supplier, four downstream companies have been fined for delayed reporting—including the firm that initially discovered the contamination. Authorities are currently conducting a nationwide sweep to pull all remaining affected products from store shelves.
Title: Company Fined for Carcinogen
REPORTER:
Taiwan's food and drug administration is imposing a five-million US dollar fine on a supplier of tainted cooking oil.
An illegal amount of a grade 1 carcinogen was found in soybean oil used in school lunches and restaurants. Officials say Central Union Oil Corporation intended on hiding the problematic batch from authorities. Four downstream firms are also fined for delayed reporting, including one that brought the issue to light. Officials are working on taking down any products that used the tainted oil from store shelves.
