TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s investigation into benzopyrene-contaminated soybean oil found that Central Union Oil raised its allowable soybean heat-damage limit tenfold and failed to properly follow manufacturing controls, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Tuesday.
Shih said the company raised its allowable soybean heat-damage rate from 0.5% to 5% last year, per Storm Media. Investigators are examining whether the looser raw material standard and inadequate production controls contributed to elevated benzopyrene levels.
Shih said the findings are preliminary and that a panel of experts will determine whether the company’s practices caused the contamination. The findings followed multiple expert meetings and inspections conducted by the Food and Drug Administration’s investigative task force.
Shih also announced plans to amend the law to strengthen reporting requirements after the company allegedly delayed and concealed notification of the contaminated products, Storm Media reported. He said the maximum fine for delayed reporting would increase from NT$3 million (US$102,000) to NT$30 million, while liability would expand to food businesses, testing agencies, and laboratories.
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration Director-General Chiang Chih-kang (姜至剛) said the heat-damage rate refers to soybeans scorched and degraded by high temperatures, per CNA. He said the previous 0.5% limit allowed five damaged beans per 1,000 soybeans, but the company raised the threshold to 5% last year, allowing up to 50.
Chiang said the preliminary investigation found that raw materials with higher heat-damage rates tended to produce oil with higher benzopyrene concentrations. He said the raw materials may have been a contributing factor, but further confirmation is needed.
