Contaminated oil scandal widens in Taiwan; 'Noble Family,' 'Bred Bread' implicated

Taiwan's food safety authorities have expanded a recall of cooking oil contaminated with the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene. The affected products are linked to Chung Lien Oil, with the latest announcement adding well-known brands like "Noble Family" (貴族世家) and "Bred Bread" (布列德麵包) to the list of impacted downstream businesses.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its list of affected items, increasing the total from 401 to 440. The contamination was first detected in soybean salad oil produced by Chung Lien Oil in April and May. Subsequent investigations revealed that a blended oil produced by a downstream company, Taishun, also contained the carcinogen, using soybean oil from Chung Lien's May 12 production batch.

Authorities have ordered a complete precautionary recall of all oil products manufactured by Chung Lien Oil between April and June. This measure applies to both first and second-tier products and will remain in effect until testing confirms their safety. The FDA noted discrepancies between Chung Lien Oil's self-testing results and those from downstream businesses, emphasizing the need for the precautionary recall to safeguard public health.

The expanded list includes a variety of food items, such as "Noble Family's" restaurant food products and "Bred Bread's" baked goods. "Huo Jia Xiang" (禾家香) also faces recalls for multiple dumpling and pastry products. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about food safety and the integrity of the supply chain in Taiwan.