Taichung City accused of inflating inspection records for carcinogenic oil

Taichung City's government faces sharp criticism from green lawmakers over its handling of inspections for carcinogenic substances in cooking oil, specifically concerning "Zhonglian" brand oil. Lawmakers accuse the city of inflating its inspection record by including 17 self-inspections conducted by the company itself as part of the city's oversight performance.

The controversy erupted after Health and Welfare Minister Shiu Chien-liang confirmed that Taichung City had only cooperated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for one special inspection of Zhonglian oil in the past two years. Taichung's Deputy Mayor, Cheng Chao-hsin, refuted this, stating that a total of 18 inspections had occurred, encompassing the 17 times the company legally submitted its products for testing and one joint inspection with the central government.

Green lawmakers argue that the company's self-inspections are a legal obligation, not a testament to the city's diligence. They contend that the Taichung city government, led by Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, failed to proactively conduct its own inspections as a local regulatory authority. Council members pointed out that previous claims by the mayor's office about conducting multiple inspections were misleading, as they primarily involved health and environmental checks, not oil quality testing.

Critics further allege that the city government's revised graphic materials, which initially claimed 18 inspections, only added a note about the health bureau's single inspection in a second version. This suggests Taichung has relied heavily on central government intervention and industry self-regulation rather than actively enforcing local oversight. Lawmakers expressed dismay, citing a pattern of misrepresenting facts and shifting blame, similar to previous food safety issues.