Health

Taichung Prosecutors Indict Four Companies, 15 Executives in Cooking Oil Scandal

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By TaiwanPlus

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Taichung prosecutors have indicted four companies and 15 executives in one of Taiwan's biggest food safety scandals. Prosecutors say the executives knew a shipment of Brazilian soybeans had high rates of heat damage, raising the risk of the formation of benzopyrene, which can cause cancer. Managers at Fwusow Industry Co., Formosa Oilseed Processing Co. Ltd. and Taisun Enterprise Co. also knew of the problem but failed to immediately stop sales. Those indicted could face prison sentences and large financial penalties. Food safety officials say they are tightening market checks, while local authorities say the companies cannot resume operations until they pass safety reviews.

Cooking Oil Scandal and Indictment

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Cooking Oil Scandal  
REPORTER:  
Taichung prosecutors have indicted four companies and 15 of their executives for one of Taiwan’s biggest ever food safety scandals.

Li Yu-pei (PROSECUTOR):  
Central Union Oil executives knew a specific shipment of Brazilian soybeans had high rates of heat damage increasing the risk of benzopyrene formation during production. Yet they deliberately ignored food safety and loosened standards. Managers at Fwusow, Formosa and Taisun knew there was a problem with the oil but all failed to immediately stop sales.

The indictments follow weeks of investigation to expose a major cover-up of carcinogenic cooking oil leaving production lines. Those indicted could face up to seven years in prison, millions of US dollars in fines and confiscation of illegal profits. Food safety officials say they are tightening market checks, while local authorities insist the companies cannot resume operations until they pass strict safety reviews.  
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Tainted Oil Indictment  
REPORTER:  
Taichung prosecutors indicted more than a dozen executives and four companies responsible for a major food safety crisis.

Li Yu-pei (PROSECUTOR):  
Central Union Oil executives knew a specific shipment of Brazilian soybeans had high heat-damage rates, increasing the risk of benzopyrene formation during production. Yet they ignored food safety and loosened acceptance standards anyways. Managers at Fushow, Fuma and Taishan also knew they were using tainted oil, but all failed to immediately stop sales.

That follows a weeks-long probe that exposed a cover-up of carcinogenic cooking oil hitting store shelves. Key defendants, who concealed and destroyed evidence of production defects, face up to seven years in prison and millions of US dollars in fines and illicit profit forfeitures. Food safety officials say they are tightening market checks, while local authorities insist the companies cannot resume operations until they pass strict safety reviews.  
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