TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first day of a recall of non-medical-grade masks imported from China and passed off as Taiwanese products by a local company brought in more than half a million masks, reports said Saturday (Sept. 5).

Over the course of Friday (Sept. 4), citizens brought in 535,900 items bearing the name of Carry Mask. The company’s chief has been questioned and released on bail after coming up with a number of unrelated excuses for why he has imported Chinese masks and relabeled them as Taiwanese.

The total number of Carry Masks to be recalled could exceed 5 million, CNA reported Saturday. Most of the masks were distributed in New Taipei City, with some reaching Taipei and Yilan County. Consumers have until Sept. 11 to return any masks they believe were involved in Carry Mask’s scheme to pharmacies or health offices.

Government officials denied that any other companies have been caught conducting similar scams, but they emphasized that the country of origin should be mentioned on masks' label.

The Chinese masks, which are intended for industrial use only, will be temporarily stored by the post office system for the duration of the investigation, reports said. Whether they will be destroyed or redistributed for non-medical use remains uncertain.

A couple of angry consumers went to protest the company at its factory in New Taipei City’s Bali District Friday evening, throwing its masks around in the street, reports said.