Bitter Tea Oil Contaminated with Benzopyrene, Taipei Health Agency Orders Recall
The Taipei City Health Bureau received a self‑report from Yongfu Yu Biotech (永豐餘生技) that its "In‑land Golden Flower Bitter Tea Oil" (在地金花小菓苦茶油) batch contained benzopyrene at 2.9 µg/kg, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0 µg/kg. The bureau immediately recalled 500 bottles of the implicated batch and an additional 84 bottles from other batches, and ordered a preventive recall of all remaining stock. Consumers may obtain a full refund, even without a receipt, and the company also offered equivalent shopping credits.
Minister of Health and Welfare Shi Chong‑liang (石崇良) affirmed that the recall actions follow scientific risk assessment, noting that benzopyrene poses long‑term cumulative health risks rather than acute toxicity. The ministry has expanded the recall scope to include other oil products and launched an investigation, with law‑enforcement agencies now reviewing the case. Yongfu Yu Biotech stated it will strengthen its food‑safety monitoring, increase testing frequency for benzopyrene, and tighten supplier oversight.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over food‑oil safety in Taiwan and the authorities' readiness to act on self‑reported violations.
Entities: Benzopyrene · Bitter tea oil · Shi Chong‑liang · Shih Chong‑liang · Taipei City Health Bureau · Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare · Weijia International · Yongfu Yu Biotech
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Law‑enforcement agencies have opened an investigation to determine corporate responsibility and administrative procedures. (cf388f71-67b8-4802-bf93-50323680acfb)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Consumers can obtain a full refund even without a receipt, and unopened products are also eligible. (b15cc85c-c8cc-4eae-8b27-9a3af6f8bc93)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Taipei City Health Bureau recalled 500 bottles of the implicated batch and 84 bottles from other batches, ordering a preventive recall of all remaining stock. (b15cc85c-c8cc-4eae-8b27-9a3af6f8bc93, cf388f71-67b8-4802-bf93-50323680acfb)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The batch's expiration date is 25 May 2028 and each bottle holds 250 ml. (b15cc85c-c8cc-4eae-8b27-9a3af6f8bc93)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The In‑land Golden Flower Bitter Tea Oil batch contained benzopyrene at 2.9 µg/kg, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0 µg/kg. (b15cc85c-c8cc-4eae-8b27-9a3af6f8bc93, 497719c8-c7e5-4efe-84bc-5ac28bd1ba38, cf388f71-67b8-4802-bf93-50323680acfb)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Yongfu Yu Biotech voluntarily reported the issue, halted sales, initiated a full recall, and offered full refunds and equivalent shopping credits. (497719c8-c7e5-4efe-84bc-5ac28bd1ba38, cf388f71-67b8-4802-bf93-50323680acfb)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Health Minister Shi Chong‑liang said the recall actions are based on scientific evidence and have been expanded to other oil products. (cf388f71-67b8-4802-bf93-50323680acfb)