Health

Sesame Oil Maker Suspends Production After Reporting High BaP Levels

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By TaiwanPlus

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A cooking oil producer in southern Taiwan has been ordered to halt operations after reporting a contaminated batch of dark sesame oil. Uni-Procurement Corp. alerted local health authorities after testing found excessive levels of benzopyrene, or BaP, which can cause cancer. Authorities have ordered a blanket recall of all affected products while they investigate. The case follows the discovery of illegal BaP levels in soybean oil in June, which prompted investigations that uncovered further violations. 

Tainted Cooking Oil Scandal in Taiwan

REPORTER:  
A cooking oil producer in southern Taiwan has been told to halt operations after it reported a contaminated batch of dark sesame oil.

Uni‑Procurement Corp. alerted local health authorities after its testing found excessive levels of benzopyrene, or BaP, which can cause cancer. Authorities ordered a blanket recall on all affected products while they investigate.

Illegal levels of BaP were discovered in soybean oil in June, prompting investigations that revealed further violations.

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Sesame Oil Carcinogen Alert

REPORTER:  
A sesame oil producer in Chiayi City was ordered to halt operations after self-reporting a contaminated batch of dark sesame oil.

The Uni‑Procurement Corp. reported the issue to Chiayi public health officials after testing found excessive levels of the class 1 carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, or BaP. Authorities ordered a blanket recall on all affected products while they investigate. This comes after a major soybean oil scandal in June, involving oil at four times the legal limit of BaP, prompting stricter investigations which discovered even more violations. This is the first time a company voluntarily reported noncompliant batches since nationwide investigations began.