Kaohsiung confirms 12 schools used problematic cooking oil in lunches

A food safety scare has impacted school lunches in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with the Education Bureau confirming that 12 schools used cooking oil found to be problematic. The bureau emphasized that no information was withheld, attributing the issue to a newly identified batch of contaminated oil that triggered the broader safety concerns.

Initially, the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau had stated that school lunches had not been affected by the "zhonglian carcinogenic oil" scandal. However, on July 15, the bureau proactively announced that 13 schools were suspected of using the problematic oil. This announcement followed the discovery of four additional batches of suspect oil, widening the scope of the food safety alert.

The newly identified problematic oil batches include "315-1150510," "313-1150512," "318-1150406," and "314-1150410." Health officials traced the distribution of these oils and identified Kaohsiung Jiaqi Food as a supplier that had used these products. The Education Bureau was subsequently notified and initiated a comprehensive investigation, confirming that the affected schools received the contaminated oil from this supplier.

Authorities have acted swiftly to address the situation. The contaminated oil has been removed, inventoried, and sealed from the affected school cafeterias. The Education Bureau has also informed parents through LINE groups about the incident and the school's safety measures. For consumers who purchased related products and face disputes, the city offers a consumer service hotline. If mediation fails and more than 20 consumers are affected, the city government may support group legal action to protect consumer rights.