Carcinogenic Cooking Oil Scandal Widens: More Batches Contaminated, Major Establishments Implicated

The scandal involving Chuen Yau cooking oil has escalated as two additional batches were found to contain excessive levels of benzopyrene, a known carcinogen. This discovery increases the total number of contaminated batches to seven, intensifying concerns over food safety in Taiwan.

Taichung City's Department of Health has released the distribution records for the sixth and seventh batches of contaminated soybean salad oil. These batches have led to a wider recall affecting 34 items and 320 batches of derivative products from Fushou and Fomao. The city's health department has identified 738 downstream businesses nationwide that received these products. Among them are prominent hotels like The Regent Taipei and Six Star Hotel, as well as major retailers such as Shopee and PChome.

The sixth batch identified (batch number 313-1150408) led to the recall of 15 items and 270 batches, with 270 Fushou and 74 Fomao businesses affected. The seventh batch (batch number 315-1150413) resulted in the recall of 19 items and 50 batches, impacting 343 Fushou and 51 Fomao businesses. The health department is working with local authorities to track and remove these products from circulation.

Additionally, another batch, Chuen Yau soybean salad oil (batch number 314-1150401), has been added to the precautionary recall list. This brings the total number of soybean salad oil batches under investigation to 30, produced between April and June. The Taichung City health department stated it will continue to investigate and disclose the flow of affected products to prevent further circulation of unsafe food items.