Taiwan toxic oil contaminates school lunches, prompting health and legal response

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Food and Drug Administration released a draft report on the contaminated cooking oil supplied by Zhonglian Oil, blaming relaxed inspection standards for Brazilian soybeans, inadequate processing controls, and the exclusion of benzo[a]pyrene from risk assessments. Dr. Su Weishuo of the National Food Safety Alliance criticized the investigation as ignoring a century‑long risk‑analysis framework and called the government's food‑safety system a failure, demanding a public apology and compensation.

In Hsinchu City, officials traced 41 barrels of the same oil (batch 20270416000403) used in school meals at 16 primary and secondary schools during May. The city education department convened principals, notified parents, and coordinated with the Taiwan Consumer Protection Association, which has opened litigation against Zhonglian, Tai Shan, Fu Shou and Fu Mao oil companies on behalf of affected students and families.