Taiwan FDA reviews procedures after criticism over carcinogenic oil recall

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing scrutiny and plans to revise its procedures following criticism over its response to a contamination incident involving carcinogenic benzopyrene in cooking oil produced by Chung Lien Oil.

The controversy erupted when downstream manufacturer Nan Chiao reported elevated levels of benzopyrene in April. However, Chung Lien Oil reportedly did not test or notify the FDA until June, raising suspicions of concealment. The FDA's initial action on July 1 was to order Chung Lien Oil to suspend operations and recall only the raw material oil, not blended oils or other finished products. This limited recall drew widespread criticism and questions about the agency's effectiveness.

FDA Minister Shih Chung-liang acknowledged that the initial decision not to expand the recall to downstream products felt "strange." He explained that the agency followed existing regulations, which differentiate between illegal additives or substances exceeding toxicity standards (requiring full recall) and substances naturally occurring during processing that exceed safety standards (requiring initial recall, with subsequent layers typically having very low concentrations). However, given the broad implications of this case, the FDA later decided to implement a precautionary recall for second-tier products.

To strengthen oversight, the FDA has scheduled a meeting with Taiwan's four major vegetable oil refining companies, Dah Tong Yi, Chung Lien Oil, Taiwan Sugar, and Chang Huei, to discuss improvements in quality control, process monitoring, and to develop new standard procedures. The Taichung City Health Bureau is also investigating, with preliminary findings suggesting the issue might stem from raw soybeans from Brazil, possibly due to high moisture content or contamination during the roasting process.

The carcinogenic oil has also affected school cafeterias, with various cities releasing lists of affected vendors, including kindergartens, high schools, and catering services. Chung Lien Oil has declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation by prosecutors. Changhua County health officials confirmed that problematic oil was supplied to various downstream businesses, including well-known restaurants and entertainment venues.