The investigation into the case of excessive carcinogens in Taiwan's Zhonglian Oils and Fats oil products was concluded, and 4 companies and 15 people were prosecuted.

China News Service, Taipei, August 18th: The investigation into the case of excessive carcinogens in Taiwan's Chung Lian Oil Company's oil products was concluded on the 18th. The Taichung District Prosecutor's Office prosecuted 4 companies including China United Oils and Fats, as well as 15 people including China United Oils and Fats Chairman Cai Qingsong, for violating the Food Safety Act, and requested the confiscation and expropriation of relevant criminal proceeds totaling approximately NT$880 million (NT$, the same below).

Based on reports from Taiwanese media such as the Central News Agency, China Times News Network, and Lianhe News Network, prosecutors pointed out that between April and May this year, Zoomlion Oils and Fats used Brazilian soybean raw materials purchased by three companies, including Fushou, Fumao and Taishan, to produce salad oil; some of the oil products were found to have excessive benzopyrene content by downstream operators and inspection agencies. After investigation, the total number of problematic oil products in this case was 8,478.88 tons.

Prosecutors stated that Cai Qingsong and other executives of Zoomlion Oils and Fats had earlier known that the proportion of heat-damaged soybean raw materials imported from Brazil was relatively high, which may increase the risk of benzopyrene produced in the oil production process. They still relaxed the feed standard for heat-damaged soybeans from the original 0.5% to 5%, and did not simultaneously increase relevant inspection and control measures. In May, abnormal inspection results were discovered. Cai Qingsong and others did not take necessary measures such as identifying the source of the problem and improving the manufacturing process. They also failed to proactively report and recycle the products in accordance with regulations. They delayed reporting to the competent authorities until June 30.

The prosecutor also pointed out that Hong Yaokun, chairman of Fushou Company, Zhang Zhibin, general manager of Fumao Company, Liu Weilong, chairman of Taishan Company, and others knew that their companies' products used problematic oils, and were suspected of continuing to repackage, blend or make relevant oils into related products for sale to downstream food factories, catering operators and general consumers.

The prosecutors prosecuted 15 people including Cai Qingsong, Hong Yaokun, Zhang Zhibin, Liu Weilong and four companies involved in the case for violating the Food Safety Law and the Criminal Law, forging documents and fraud. The prosecutors also recommended that the court impose a harsher sentence.

Regarding the proceeds of crime, the prosecutors requested the court to confiscate and recover approximately 370 million yuan from China United Oil, Fushou Company, approximately 200 million yuan, Fumao Company, approximately 180 million yuan, and Taishan Company, approximately 130 million yuan.

After the soybean salad oil produced by China United Oils and Fats was found to have serious excess carcinogens, the health and welfare department of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities failed to perform its supervision and inspection duties, which caused strong dissatisfaction and Taiwanese people once held a rally to protest.