TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Soybean salad oil made by Central Union Oil Corporation from April to June and related processed foods should be removed from shelves by Friday noon, Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said.
The minister has come under fire for changes in policy regarding the oil from Central Union, which contained too much benzoapyrene, a cancer-linked chemical likely to form when food or oil is heated at high temperatures. The tainted oil has been found in 401 products from 360 companies, per UDN.
Shih presented the latest results of the ministry’s actions at the regular Thursday morning Cabinet meeting. He said the first reports of tainted oil came in on June 30, concerning Central Union oil produced in April.
Taisun Enterprise Co., Ltd. reported on July 7 that it had found tainted oil supplied by Central Union with the production date listed as May. Shih said soybean salad oil produced in April and May contained too much benzoapyrene and added that test results by Central Union and downstream users showed conflicting data.
As there was no room for compromise on public health, Shih said all Central Union oil products and related processed foods made from April to June should be taken out of circulation. The precautionary measure should be completed by Friday noon, he said.
The Food and Drug Administration said that in principle, all products available for sale after Friday noon would be safe to consume, the Liberty Times reported.
