[REVISION HISTORY]

Taiwan edible oil contamination and food safety crisis

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-28 03:42 UTC → 2026-08-29 08:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, the Taipei City Health Bureau investigated Yongfu Yu Biotech after its In-land Golden Flower Bitter Tea Oil exceeded legal benzopyrene limits. This led to fraud charges against Weiga Co., batch withdrawals, and a plant manager’s detention. By early August, contamination was also found in Lianjing Company products, prompting new PAH-reduction guidelines and an inquiry into raw-material sources. On 8 August, the Ministry of Health and Welfare defended its policy that oil containing benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) above a 20% threshold must be removed from the market, stating the standard is based on scientific review rather than “political pressure.” Following the discovery that Zhonglian Oil Co. concealed excess BaP levels, the FDA coordinated on-site investigations with prosecutors. By mid-August, the FDA reported eight facilities had produced camellia oil exceeding legal limits. One case involved Tonggu Industrial Co., Ltd.’s “Ma You Che” Premium Cold-Pressed Camellia Oil, which tested at 2.1 μg/kg. By late August, the crisis expanded to 13 oil mills, including a contamination finding in black sesame oil from Tong Gou Industrial Co., Ltd. containing 3.2 μg/kg of BaP. By late August, the number of identified non-compliant mills rose to 15. Following a self-report by Tong Gou Industrial Co., Ltd., 360 bottles of “Ma You Che Cold Pressed Black Sesame Oil” (expiring in 2028) were recalled, with the retailer Sheng De Ke Si suspending sales and offering refunds. The FDA identified potential contamination causes including the use of biomass fuels like dry branches for heating, uneven roasting temperatures, and the repeated heating of residue in equipment. In response, the Taipei City Government launched a fourth wave of testing targeting high-market-share sesame oils and online retailers. The FDA announced it will begin on-site inspections and guidance for non-compliant mills in September. ~~Meanwhile, New Taipei City officials inspected catering facilities to ensure the safety of 323,000 daily free nutritious student lunches.~~

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