Taiwanese Camellia Oil Exceeds Benzo(a)pyrene Limits; Investigation Underway

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) is investigating a case where Yongfengyu, a well-known Taiwanese company, voluntarily reported that its camellia oil product exceeded the legal limit for benzo(a)pyrene, a potentially carcinogenic compound.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang confirmed that recall measures have been implemented for the affected product, "Local Golden Flower Small Fruit Camellia Oil." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the Chiayi County health bureau, is conducting an on-site inspection of the manufacturing plant located in Chiayi County to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the contamination.

This incident follows a series of recent cases involving elevated levels of benzo(a)pyrene in edible oils. While other large soybean oil refineries recently passed inspections, a company named Lianjing had previously self-reported a similar issue with its camellia oil. Shih emphasized the necessity of inter-county collaboration to ensure food safety and stated that the ministry would provide updates on the investigation's findings as they become available.

The immediate priority is to control the risk by removing the substandard product from the market. The investigation aims to clarify the exact cause of the contamination and ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Yongfengyu's voluntary reporting is a step in the process, but further investigation is required to fully address the issue.

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Health food safety investigation requires cross-county cooperation to ensure proper oversight. We have already initiated recall measures for the relevant products to control the risk before thoroughly investigating the situation.