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Taiwan's KMT slams government over 'toxic oil' scandal, demands accountability

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Kuomintang (KMT) party criticized the government's handling of a food safety scandal involving contaminated cooking oil.
  • KMT lawmakers demanded a comprehensive investigation, public disclosure of oil distribution, and accountability from Premier Cho Jung-tai.
  • They accused the ruling party of a slow response and failing to protect public health.

Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party on Wednesday lambasted the government's response to a widespread food safety scandal involving contaminated cooking oil, demanding immediate action and accountability. The party's legislative caucus accused the ruling administration of a sluggish and inadequate reaction to the crisis, which has affected hundreds of businesses.

Cancer oil exceeds standards. Did the Ministry of Health and Welfare know as early as April?

— Liberty TimesHeadline of the press conference held by the KMT legislative caucus.

KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang, chief deputy secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen, and deputy secretary-general Weng Hsiao-ling held a press conference to voice their criticisms. They highlighted that the toxic oil had been circulating for over 90 days before the government took significant action. Hsu Yu-chen expressed outrage, questioning how much of the 1,300 metric tons of contaminated oil had been recovered and how much had already been consumed by the public.

The toxic oil has been circulating for over 90 days, and the Lai government's reaction is slow and the reporting system has failed.

— Hsu Yu-chenCriticizing the government's delayed response to the food safety crisis.

The KMT proposed three key demands: a comprehensive nationwide inspection of all potentially risky raw oils, edible oils, and processed oils, with special attention to those supplied to schools, elder care facilities, and hospitals; immediate and complete daily public disclosure of all affected manufacturers, brands, products, batch numbers, and distribution channels; and Premier Cho Jung-tai to take political responsibility for the lapse in food safety oversight. The party invoked past criticisms leveled by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against previous administrations during food safety crises, urging the current government to apply the same standards of accountability.

A government that cannot even protect food safety and is only busy with election campaigning has lost the trust of the people.

— Hsu Yu-chenExpressing public distrust due to the government's perceived inaction.

Lin Pei-hsiang emphasized that food safety transcends political affiliations and that the public should not be treated as experimental subjects. He drew parallels to the 2014 Wei Chuan food scandal, suggesting the current incident could involve a similar or greater number of businesses, posing a significant threat to the entire food industry. The KMT stressed that while oil can be replaced and systems can be improved, accountability for failures must be enforced.

Food safety has no color. The people are not experimental mice for food safety. Oil that is bad can be replaced, and a rotten system can be changed.

— Lin Pei-hsiangEmphasizing the need for systemic reform and accountability beyond political divides.
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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