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Taichung accused of inflating oil inspections amid carcinogen scare

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Taichung City Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo accused the city government of inflating the number of inspections for a cooking oil company.
  • The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed only one inspection by the central government, while the city government claims 18 total checks.
  • Critics allege the city government mobilized its civil affairs system to 'cleanse' public opinion regarding food safety concerns.

Taichung City Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo has accused the city government of manipulating figures regarding inspections of the Zhonglian Oil company, which has been implicated in a carcinogen scandal. Chiang alleges that the city government exaggerated the number of inspections to downplay its oversight failures.

The city government mobilized the civil affairs system to 'cleanse the land' and help 'wash the ground.'

— Chiang Chao-kuoTaichung City Councilor, accusing the city government of manipulating public opinion.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed that the central government, specifically the Food and Drug Administration, only conducted one special inspection of Zhonglian Oil two years ago. In contrast, Taichung's Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin stated that the company underwent 18 checks in total, including 17 voluntary tests by the company itself and joint checks with the central government.

The number of inspections does not equal the total number of tests.

— Cheng Chao-hsinTaichung Deputy Mayor, clarifying the inspection figures.

Chiang criticized this framing, arguing that the city government is misrepresenting the situation by including the company's self-initiated tests. He further alleged that the city government mobilized its civil affairs system to spread positive information and counter criticism online, a tactic he described as 'cleansing the land.' The councilor questioned whether Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's administration was deliberately protecting the company or was simply negligent, given that the city reportedly did not proactively test Zhonglian Oil for benzopyrene during her eight-year tenure.

Is it administrative laziness or intentional protection? The public is watching.

— Chiang Chao-kuoTaichung City Councilor, questioning the city government's actions.

Mayor Lu reiterated the city's commitment to food safety, emphasizing principles of "strictness over leniency," "publishing findings wherever they are investigated," and "removing any products with doubts." However, critics like Chiang argue that these statements are insufficient given the repeated food safety issues in Taichung, citing past incidents like African swine fever and problematic cooking oils, and demanding accountability from the mayor.

We will be strict rather than lenient, publish findings wherever investigated, and remove any products with doubts.

— Lu Shiow-yenTaichung Mayor, emphasizing the city's approach to food safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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