Weiga Co. executives released on bail amid Taiwan bitter tea oil contamination case

Taiwan prosecutors have charged Weiga Co. with fraud and false labeling after testing revealed that bitter tea oil sold under several brands contained benzopyrene above legal limits. The oil, marketed by Yongfeng Yu Biotech and other firms, was found to be made from Chinese bitter tea seeds mixed with locally sourced material and processed at Yuan Chun Oil Factory.

Eight batches of the contaminated oil have been withdrawn from the market. The court ordered the actual responsible person, Tu Jie‑sheng, to post a NT$1 million bail, while registration head Jin Tian‑li posted NT$500,000. Additional staff members also posted bail. Investigators have detained the plant’s manager and are examining the supply chain for missing purchase records.

The Food and Drug Administration, after receiving a report from Yongfeng Yu Biotech, initiated the probe, and the case is being coordinated with the Northern Prosecutors Office under the direction of senior prosecutors Zhou Fang‑yi and Luo Yi‑shan.