TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Wednesday he was willing to apologize for public confusion caused by repeated policy changes in the Central Union Oil Corporation tainted oil case.
CNA reported that the case involves 1,300 tonnes of soybean salad oil that contained too much benzoapyrene. The cancer-linked chemical can form when food or oil is heated at high temperatures.
The oil was sent to downstream companies including Taisun enterprise, Fwusow industry, and Formosa Oilseed Processing Co.. Those companies used or handled the oil before the recall was expanded.
The health ministry ordered Central Union Oil to stop making and shipping soybean salad oil on July 1. On July 2, it ordered companies to remove the first group of affected oil products from shelves.
The ministry expanded the recall again on July 4. It ordered the removal of the affected oil itself and processed foods containing at least 20% affected oil.
On Tuesday, the ministry said processed foods with any amount of affected oil must also be removed as a precaution. The repeated changes led to public concern and criticism from lawmakers, Liberty Times reported.
Speaking at a legislative committee meeting, KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) criticized the ministry for changing its rules several times. She said officials should apologize for the spread of the problem oil and the confusion caused by the changing policy.
Shih said he was willing to apologize for the trouble caused by the policy changes. He said the ministry’s first response followed food recall rules issued in 2017.
Shih said officials later found the case was unusual and called expert meetings to review the rules. He said the ministry adjusted its response as new facts became clear.
Wang also said the case appeared to be growing after the ministry found another Ta Shan cooking oil product with too much benzoapyrene. She asked whether Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had fully approved the ministry’s early handling of the case, Rti reported.
Shih said Cho had not approved a limited recall of only oil products. He said Cho asked the ministry to review the issue further, and the ministry held an expert meeting the next day.
Shih said the priority was to stabilize the case, complete checks quickly, and reassure the public. He said officials would take responsibility if mistakes were found.
Shih said the ministry was testing stored samples from Central Union oil products submitted in April and late June. He said results were expected Thursday and would be reviewed by experts to help find the possible cause of the contamination, per SETN.
