Taiwan Military Denies Use of Carcinogenic Oil in Canteens Amidst Safety Concerns

Taiwan's military is facing scrutiny following revelations that oil contaminated with potentially carcinogenic Benzopyrene (BaP) may have entered its supply chain. The issue came to light with reports of such oil being supplied to military canteens, including those at the prominent Chenggongling training base. The affected oil products were reportedly from the Fushun and Taishan brands. However, officials have moved to quell public anxiety, asserting that the specific problematic batches of oil were not served to soldiers. Shen Zhe-fang, Director-General of the Department of Household and Youths Administration, stated that the oil used by conscripts at Chenggongling, sourced from Fushun and Tai Sugar, did not contain the concerning BaP levels. He further clarified that since July 6, the base has switched to using oils from the Meishijia and Dacheng brands. Minister of the Interior, Liu Shih-fang, joined conscripts for lunch at Chenggongling, where the meal featured a "double main course" of grilled eel and fried chicken legs, accompanied by three side dishes. This initiative aimed to showcase improvements in the base's food services amidst the safety concerns.