Taiwan Slams China for Food Safety Interference

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has strongly rebuked China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) for what it calls unwarranted interference in Taiwan's domestic affairs, particularly concerning food safety standards.

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Taiwan's food safety management mechanism is rigorous and does not require China to make irresponsible remarks and interfere in our internal affairs.

The dispute arose after TAO spokesperson Zhu Fenglian questioned Taiwan's handling of a salad oil contamination incident. Zhu claimed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities were delaying action and concealing information, thereby disregarding public welfare. She highlighted that China's regulatory limit for benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogen, is 10μg/kg, which is five times more lenient than Taiwan's standard.

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Food is related to people's livelihood, and food safety is the bottom line of people's livelihood. Benzo(a)pyrene is listed as a Class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

The MAC responded by stating that Taiwan's food safety management mechanisms are rigorous and do not require external commentary or interference. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified that Taiwan's limit for benzo(a)pyrene in edible oils is 2.0μg/kg, a standard set with reference to EU regulations and stricter than China's current 10μg/kg limit. The council emphasized that China's comments constitute interference in Taiwan's internal affairs.

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The DPP authorities are delaying disposal and attempting to cover up information, fully exposing their ugly face of disregarding people's livelihood.