Don't panic over contaminated oil, focus on China's 'three-no' food risks, says doctor-politician

A Taiwanese politician has urged the public not to overreact to a recent food safety scare involving contaminated cooking oil. Wu Hsin-tai, a city council candidate and surgeon, advised that short-term, minimal exposure to the contaminant, benzo[a]pyrene, can be processed by the body.

“

Don't panic excessively.

She recommended consuming fiber-rich fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, guavas, and kiwis to aid metabolism. Wu emphasized that while the contaminant is a Group 1 carcinogen according to the WHO, its impact depends on dosage and exposure time. She reassured the public that panic is unnecessary.

“

The impact on health depends on dosage and exposure time.

The incident involved Zhonglian Oil, which produced 1,300 metric tons of contaminated soybean salad oil. Wu pointed out that the company's initial self-inspection passed, indicating a failure in quality control. However, a downstream manufacturer, Nan Chiao, conducted an additional test that revealed high levels of benzo[a]pyrene, leading to the recall.

“

Consume deep green vegetables, guavas, kiwis, and other fiber-rich fresh produce.

Wu contrasted this with the greater threat posed by Chinese

“

There is a whole system that can make mistakes.