New Taipei City: 52 manufacturers affected by problematic Zhonglian cooking oil

New Taipei City authorities are continuing their investigation into problematic cooking oil from Zhonglian, with 52 downstream manufacturers in the city identified as having used the affected products. The city government has mandated the recall of these products and is taking steps to reassure consumers.

Following the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) release of a list of downstream companies using Zhonglian's soybean salad oil, the New Taipei City government launched a special investigation on July 2. Companies using soybean salad oil and blended oil from problematic batches have been instructed to cease use and initiate recalls. Additionally, 40 public markets in New Taipei City will display "Qualified Cooking Oil in This Market" notices to build consumer confidence.

The investigation revealed that most of Zhonglian's downstream clients are retailers or food service businesses. Currently, processed products containing more than 20% of the affected soybean salad oil include salad dressing from Dongying Company (which is past its expiration date and not in circulation) and tartar sauce from Kuang Da Hsiang Company (in 250g and 1000g sizes, with an expiration date of October 22, 2026).

Products made with less than 20% of the affected oil include Lao Hsieh Chen Company's white fish rice burger (batch number: 270625), Kuai Kuai Company's original salad dressing (100g, 200g, and 500g sizes, with expiration dates between July 8 and July 15, 2026), and various sauces from Kuang Da Hsiang Company, including Caesar sauce (300g, expiring October 16, 2026), honey mustard sauce (250g, expiring July 29, 2026; 1000g, expiring July 29, 2026), and vegetarian savory floss (seaweed and sesame, expiring April 16, 2027). These manufacturers have already begun precautionary recalls.

The New Taipei City Department of Health has provided a list of affected businesses, products, batch numbers, and consumer return information on the city's food safety incident platform. The Market Office has also inspected public markets, night markets, and street vendor areas, requiring vendors to verify their oil sources and batch numbers, and to immediately remove and recall any problematic oil. The health department emphasized its ongoing supervision and urged businesses to implement self-management and strict supplier oversight to protect consumer rights.