Zhonglian Grease Oil Passes Re-inspection, Returns to Shelves

Following a food safety scare, 19 batches of cooking oil from Zhonglian Grease will be available for purchase again after passing re-inspection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that these batches, along with related products, can be restocked immediately.

The issue arose between April and June when seven out of 30 batches of soybean salad oil produced by Zhonglian Grease were found to contain excessive levels of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a first-class carcinogen. Of the remaining batches, three were held at the factory and not shipped, while 20 were voluntarily removed from shelves pending further testing.

The FDA conducted tests on upstream crude oil samples and final products from companies like Fwusow, Fwumao, and Taishin. Out of 22 samples tested (one batch was exported and had no retained sample), all met regulatory standards. The FDA convened a Food Risk Assessment Advisory Committee to review these findings and decide on the subsequent handling of the oil batches and downstream products.

The committee's decision allows the 19 batches that passed inspection to be relisted. The three batches still held at the factory, though also compliant with safety standards, remain under the control of health authorities and are not part of this relisting. This move aims to restore consumer confidence and ensure the availability of safe food products.