Source: All Taipei News

Oct.22nd, 2013

 

The adulterated cooking oil scandal continues to snowball with spotlight on the accused Taiwan manufacturer. After receiving reports that the “pure” olive oil manufactured by Tatung Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co. was not 100-percent pure, prosecutors conducted thorough investigations and discovered that the company had added cheaper oils to various oil products. A total of 80 were found to be in violation of the Food Safety Act, so the company was fined NT$28,600,000 in total by the Changhua County Government Public Health Bureau (CCGPHB). The ultimate fine could be the highest that has ever been imposed on a single food company in Taiwan's history.

 

CCGPHB ordered the company to halt its cooking oil production lines and not resume production until corrective measures were taken. Kao Cheng-li, chairman of Tatung Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co., has publicly apologized, saying that the company was willing to refund the purchase prices of all products in question. 

 

While fielding questions at the Legislative Yuan on Oct 18, Chiu Wen-ta, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated that the chairman of Tatung Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory could be sentenced to a maximum of 3 years in prison if convicted of violations of the Food Safety Act. Chiu also added that the company might have to forfeit its illegal gains depending on the severity of offense. He also pointed out that the punishment would be significant and the ultimate amount of fine might be unprecedented in Taiwan’s history to send the message to food manufacturers “not to attempt to circumvent the law”.