Company Owner Bailed After Probe into Toxic Chinese Rapeseed Oil

Taiwanese prosecutors have detained the owner and key procurement staff of a company suspected of illegally producing toxic cooking oil using Chinese rapeseed. The investigation centers on "Weijia International Co., Ltd.," accused of supplying substandard Chinese rapeseed to a processing plant, which then produced oil contaminated with high levels of benzopyrene, a known carcinogen.

The case came to light when Yongfengyu Bio-Technology Co., Ltd. discovered 2.9 μg/kg of benzopyrene in its "Local Golden Flower Small Fruit" brand of rapeseed oil. The company voluntarily reported the issue to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Around the same time, International Function Company also found similar problems with its own rapeseed oil. The FDA initiated a thorough investigation, tracing the contaminated oil back to Weijia International, which had commissioned Yuanchun Oil Mill in Chiayi County to process the oil. The final product was then packaged and sold under the "Asia Family" brand.

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The company allegedly purchased cheaper Chinese rapeseed through an intermediary... to cut costs. This raw material was then falsely marketed as high-quality Taiwanese produce.

Investigators discovered that Weijia International allegedly purchased cheaper Chinese rapeseed through an intermediary, Chen Yuan-nung, to cut costs. This raw material was then falsely marketed as high-quality Taiwanese produce. The company allegedly supplied this "toxic raw material" to Yuanchun Oil Mill, which also processes oil for several other well-known Taiwanese brands, indicating a potentially widespread issue.

Following the investigation, prosecutors, along with the Investigation Bureau and the FDA, conducted searches and questioned seven individuals, including company representatives and procurement staff from Weijia International, Yuanchun Oil Mill, and the Meishan Rapeseed Oil Production Cooperative. Chen Yuan-nung, the intermediary, and Chen Chung-hsiu-hui, Weijia's main procurement officer, were deemed to have significant charges of fraud and false labeling, leading to requests for their detention. Weijia's actual responsible person, Tu Chieh-sheng, was released on bail of NT$1 million (approximately $31,000 USD), while registered owner Chin Tien-li was granted bail of NT$500,000, and employee Tsai Meng-chieh posted NT$300,000 bail.

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The company allegedly supplied this 'toxic raw material' to Yuanchun Oil Mill, which also processes oil for several other well-known Taiwanese brands, indicating a potentially widespread issue.