Zhonglian oil scandal draws corporate apologies, political pressure, regulator stance

Mid‑June testing revealed benzo[a]pyrene in soybean oil supplied by Zhonglian Oil Co. The contamination spread to three downstream firms – Tai Shan, Fu Shou and Fu Mao – which on 24 June held a joint press conference. The companies acknowledged product recalls, estimated losses of NT$1‑2 billion and outlined remedial steps, but they could not provide a clear timeline of when the abnormal test results were first known and why notification to downstream customers was delayed.

Taichung mayor Lu Hsi‑yan petitioned the Legislative Yuan, demanding that the central government halt the re‑sale of 19 batches of the oil and launch a full investigation. Civic activists from the Judicial Reform Party organized a “Kaohsiung anti‑toxic oil, protect the next generation” convoy, demanding transparent disclosure of test data and corrective measures from municipal authorities.

The Food and Drug Administration affirmed that the 19 batches meet safety standards after risk assessment and may be re‑marketed, stating that the Food Safety Act does not allow local governments to impose penalties on compliant producers. Public‑health experts warned that increasing water intake does not detoxify benzo[a]pyrene, emphasizing that the proper response is to stop consumption of the affected oil and pursue product withdrawal.