KMT holds anti-toxic oil rally in Taipei, claims over 50,000 attendees

Tens of thousands gathered at Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei on Saturday for a rally organized by the Kuomintang (KMT) to protest against toxic cooking oil. Organizers announced that the crowd exceeded 50,000 people, with attendees filling the area up to Jingfu Gate and along Zhongshan South Road. The rally, titled "I Am Human, I Oppose Toxic Oil Taiwan," was called for by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an in response to the ongoing cooking oil scandal. Citizen representative Lu Hsin-yeh, who is also the parent-teacher association president for a school affected by the contaminated oil, stated that parents are less concerned about which batch of oil was problematic and more focused on what their children are consuming. "As adults, aren't we supposed to protect our children? Isn't that our responsibility? Doesn't our government have this responsibility?" Lu asked, emphasizing the need for proactive government measures. Lu urged the government to focus on prevention rather than solely on recalls, investigations, and compensation, as these actions cannot restore children's health, which remains the primary concern. The event highlighted public anxiety and demands for greater accountability and safety in the food industry.

“

Parents are less concerned about which batch of oil was problematic and more focused on what their children are consuming. As adults, aren't we supposed to protect our children? Isn't that our responsibility? Doesn't our government have this responsibility?