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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Health & Science

Taiwanese Lawmaker Slams Health Ministry Over Contaminated Oil, E-Cigarettes

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Legislator Chen Ching-hui criticizes the Ministry of Health and Welfare for its slow response to a widespread carcinogenic salad oil contamination and a hasty post-coital pill policy.
  • She also questions the ministry's handling of e-cigarette regulations, citing a lack of incentives during the grace period for prohibition.
  • Chen urges Minister Shih Chung-liang to focus on these domestic issues instead of attending political rallies.

Taiwanese legislator Chen Ching-hui has sharply criticized the Ministry of Health and Welfare, accusing it of a slow and inadequate response to multiple public health crises. She highlighted the delayed recall of 1,300 tons of carcinogenic salad oil, which had already infiltrated restaurants, convenience stores, and school lunches, causing widespread public anxiety.

The public is in a panic, and national health is in danger. What is the Ministry of Health and Welfare's progress in responding? Does the minister not need to be on-site to command?

— Chen Ching-huiLegislator Chen Ching-hui questioning the ministry's response to the contaminated oil.

Chen pointed out that the ministry took two months to initiate the recall of the contaminated oil, which was produced in April but only began to be removed from shelves in late June. She questioned the minister's whereabouts, asking if he would still attend a political rally given the "fire in his own backyard."

Further compounding the criticism, Chen addressed the issue of e-cigarettes, describing them as "zombie smoke bombs." She noted the ministry's one-month grace period for prohibition, questioning the lack of incentives for people to surrender the devices. She also slammed the hasty announcement of a post-coital pill policy, stating it lacked communication and consideration for public needs, with the ministry only promising a final plan in the latter half of the year.

What incentives are there? The Minister of Health and Welfare answered her that this is a good question. The implication is that the Ministry of Health and Welfare is not prepared at all.

— Chen Ching-huiChen Ching-hui on the e-cigarette prohibition grace period.

Chen warned Minister Shih Chung-liang against becoming another "Cheng Ying-yao 2.0," referencing a controversial education minister, and urged him to "act prudently." She questioned his priorities, asking if he had time for political campaigning while these critical health issues remained unresolved.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's backyard is on fire, does the minister still have time to go to Hsinchu to support the DPP candidate? Will he share the stage with the infamous Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao?

— Chen Ching-huiChen Ching-hui criticizing the minister's priorities.
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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