Yunlin, Taiwan Dioxin Contamination Prompts Slaughter of Affected Lambs

In July 2026, testing of lamb meat in Yunlin County, Taiwan, revealed dioxin levels above the EU warning limit. Investigations traced the contamination to feed harvested from a pasture cut by a local farmer, identified only as Li. All eight lambs from Li's flock were slaughtered and destroyed, and the farmer faces charges for falsifying documents. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Administration, confirmed that no contaminated products entered the market and that surrounding air, water, soil and feed were within safety standards.

Following the incident, the Yunlin County Government, led by County Mayor Zhang Lishan, conducted additional testing of locally produced sheep milk and confirmed it met national safety standards. The county promoted the use of the FGM (for meat) and GGM (for milk) certification marks, urging consumers to purchase only products bearing these labels. Authorities continue to trace the source of the tainted feed and maintain heightened monitoring of the region's livestock supply chain.