Taiwan Zhonglian Oil Scandal Triggers Nationwide Food Safety Actions

The Food and Drug Administration confirmed that soybean salad oil produced by Zhonglian Oil Co. contained the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) above legal limits. The scandal prompted a special report by Premier 卓榮泰 to the Legislative Yuan, where opposition lawmakers accused the administration of a cover‑up and demanded accountability.

Local authorities responded swiftly. Taichung City’s Food Safety Office inspected 14 soy‑product manufacturers and tested 29 market samples, all of which met standards, while the city’s Economic Development Bureau coordinated more than 1,000 market, night‑market and restaurant operators to post “safety notices” confirming they had checked oil sources and removed any suspect products. The central government ordered a preventive recall of 401 items, expanded testing of 52 oil samples and 321 downstream products, and announced a revision of the Food Safety Act to strengthen source‑control, process management, reporting, quality assurance and digital governance.

Retail chains, notably 7‑Eleven, removed all affected ready‑to‑eat items and set up a two‑track refund scheme for consumers who purchased the products between 13 July and 23 July. The Ministry of Health and Welfare outlined a five‑point plan to improve food‑safety oversight and pledged further investigations into the origin of the contamination.