Food safety incidents in Taiwan have received international media scrutiny.
There have been several notable food safety incidents in Taiwan, including foods adulterated with chemical agents.
2011: Plasticizer use in food products The most well-known food safety incident in Taiwan was the use in 2011 of the plasticizer DEHP to replace palm oil in food and drinks as a clouding agent. The chemical agent affects hormones and has been linked to developmental problems in children.
The foods affected includes beverages, fruit juices, bread, sports drinks, tea, and jam.
After two years of investigations, the Taiwanese government levied NT$1.2 million (around United States $40,000) in fines against 37 companies, or slightly more than US$1,000 per company.
History In mid-May 2011, the Republic of China (ROC) authorities reported that two Taiwanese companies, Yu Shen Chemical Co. and Pin Han Perfumery Co., were using DEHP in clouding agents the firms manufactured. This was used as a substitute for palm oil in clouding agents as a way to keep cost down and improve profits. However, Wei Te Chemical Co., a manufacturer of clouding agents, claims that "the reason most businesses tended to utilize illegal clouding agents was not because of price, but rather the long preservation periods and esthetically pleasing effect of using DEHP-laced products."FOOD SCARE WIDENS: Tainted additives used for two decades: manufacturer, Taipei Times, 29 May 2011
Near the end of May, the government of the ROC had begun confiscating contaminated (DEPC-laced) products and announced a ban from exporting them. Later, the list for government safety checks was extended to syrups, tablets, pastries, and powders. By 27 May 2011, "up to 465,638 bottles of DEHP-tainted beverages have been pulled from store shelves. Also, up to 270,822 boxes and 68,924 packs of powdered probiotics and 28,539 kilos of fruit juices, fruit jam, powder, and syrup, and yoghurt powder have been removed from shelves", according to EcoWaste Coalition and a report from Food and Drug Administration (FDA Taiwan; Food and Drug Administration (Taiwan)).
As of mid-June, there are roughly 900 products which have been recalled from nearly 40,000 Taiwanese retailers. Some media reports, including in The Economist, conclude that Taiwan's former reputation as a reliable and safe food manufacturing country had been damaged.
Taiwanese prosecutors alleged that one of the companies, Yu Shen, at the center of the crisis used 5 tons of DEHP every month to manufacture clouding agents which were supplied to food processing firms and pastry shops. There were 95 Taiwanese manufacturers which had used the DEHP ingredient. An additional 244 ingredient manufacturing firms had also used the DEHP.
Reactions
Domestic In 2011, Ma Ying-jeou stated that the government health units launched the nation's largest-ever action to secure food safety by checking up to 16,000 food makers and outlets, and removing from sales stands over 20,000 food and beverage items suspected of being contaminated with DEHP.
Health officials inspected over 14,000 food vendors and stores around the island, taking over 20,000 products off shelves.
Ma was criticized by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for his handling of the scandal. Opposition spokesperson Lin Yu-chang pushed the Ma Ying-jeou administration to come out with a new "D-Day" to combat the national plasticizer scare. The Kuomintang (KMT) criticized the DPP for their inability to detect DEHP while it was in power. They pointed out that DPP legislator Huang Sue-ying spoke against placing DEHP on the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) class-1 control list of toxic substances. KMT legislator Chiu Yi also alleged that the DPP had ties with the owner of the Yu Shen Company, Lai Chun-chieh. Lai's son also claimed on his Facebook webpage that DEHP was not responsible for cancer, contrary to studies that showed otherwise.
International In 2011, Chinese mainland authorities banned 812 products from the original list of 22 from Taiwan. This included sports drinks, tea, jam, juices, and other beverages. China later upgraded the banned list to cover 1,004 products.
In Hong Kong, authorities started monitoring its residents for contamination-related health issues. They banned two types of Taiwanese sports beverages called Speed. Hong Kong's health secretary York Chow stated that because the ingestion of the carcinogen will be a health risk, he supported an outright ban of the DEHP agent. In neighboring Macau, health authorities found that the antacid Scrat Suspension tested positive for DIBP and later issued a notice of recall to local importers and pharmacies. Standard Chem＆Pharm had notified its retailers to pull the product off the shelves in Taiwan and Macau.
Malaysian authorities found some bubble tea products were contaminated with DEHP and the importers were instructed to halt importation and ceased distribution of the products in Malaysia.
Authorities in the Philippines banned DEHP affected products and carried out investigations of importers to ensure affected products were recalled. Vietnam and South Korea both banned affected Taiwanese products from importation.
In the United States, California-based 99 Ranch Market, one of the largest Asian grocery chains in the country, removed plasticizer-contaminated beverages imported from Taiwan, off store shelves.
2013: Cooking oil adulteration and mislabeling In October 2013, a scandal occurred in Taiwan regarding the presence of chlorophyllin in cooking oil. Subsequent investigations unearthed widespread adulteration and mislabeling amongst cooking oil products sold in Taiwan. The resulting scandal affected many products, even outside cooking oil, such as health pills, alcoholic beverages, milk, and rice.
Companies involved
Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co. Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co. () used copper chlorophyllin, an illegal coloring agent for cooking oil, in its olive oil and had adulterated its higher-end cooking oil with cheaper cottonseed oil. The company was fined NT$ 28.6 million in accordance to the Act Governing Food Sanitation after authorities found that their products had been adulterated. In December 2013, company chairman Kao Chen-li was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the scandal. The company was also mandated to pay a further NT$50 million fine. A NT$1.85 billion fine levied by the Changhua County Public Health Bureau was annulled in July 2014 because Kao and two other company executives had already been put in jail. Kao Tsung-hsien of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Administrative Appeal Committee stated:
Flavor Full Food Inc. Flavor Full Food Inc. () was accused of blending cheaper cottonseed oil into more expensive cooking oils to increase their profit. On 26 October 2013, the company admitted their wrongdoings through health officials. The company had adulterated 24 of its products sold in Taiwan with cheaper cottonseed oil, and also added flavoring agents to one of its peanut oil products. The company had been fined NT$8 million for 25 violations. The former chairman and his brother were each sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay NT$25 million in September 2014. The company itself was ordered to pay a further NT$5 million fine.
Formosa Oilseed Processing Co. Formosa Oilseed Processing Co. () was found to intentionally mislabel their six cooking oil mixtures as pure olive oils. The company general manager issued an apology saying that the company will stop selling the small-package olive oil. The company was fined NT$15 million.
Geneherbs Biotechnology Co. The weight-loss pills manufactured by the Geneherbs Biotechnology Co. () were found to contain unauthorized drugs. The pills product called the Wellslim Plus+ contains cetilistat, a lipase inhibitor designed to treat obesity.
Sing-Lin Foods Corporation In early November, sodium copper chlorophyllin was found on Wu Mu () steamed spinach ramen noodles manufactured by Sing-Lin Foods Corporation ().
Taisun Enterprise Co. On 20 November 2013, the FDA Taiwan of Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed the grapeseed oil made by Taisun Enterprise Co. () contained the prohibited food additive copper chlorophyllin complex.
Ta Lien Alcohol Company On 28 October 2013, the contents of 11 out of 12 alcohol products manufactured by Ta lien Alcohol Company () were found not to match the ingredients listed on their labels as announced by the Department of Finance of Changhua County Government. The company was fined NT$5.5 million.
Ting Hsin International Group The chairman of Ting Hsin International Group () was indicted in early November 2013 on fraud charges because of mislabeling products and violating the Act Governing Food Sanitation in connection to adulterated oil purchased from Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co.
Wei Chuan Food Corp Wei Chuan Food Corp () were found to be involved in an adulterated cooking oil scandal. The chairman of the company offered a public apology during a press conference on 5 November 2013.
Reactions
Domestic responses ROC President – On 23 October 2013, President Ma Ying-jeou pledged to strengthen inspection on food and beverage manufacturers and severely punish those with altered food products. He also ordered the Ministry of Health and Welfare to hold a national food safety conference in November 2013 to address the issues.
Executive Yuan – The Executive Yuan had announced that it is setting up a joint food safety inspection and control team between the Yuan and Ministry of Health and Welfare and Council of Agriculture.
ROC Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) – On 23 October 2013, Minister Chiu Wen-ta said that he took full responsibility for cracking down the 'black-hearted' food suppliers. FDA Taiwan – On 29 October, Deputy Head Wu Hsiu-ying said that the MOHW drafted law amendments to increase penalties for any food fraud. The maximum fines would be increased, while the minimum fines would remain the same. FDA Taiwan is also seeking heavier criminal penalties for manufacturers of adulterated or counterfeit food with longer prison terms. Rewards will also be given to any whistle blower exposing food fraud within his/her company. Deputy Minister Shiu Ming-neng held an interim press conference on 30 October 2013. There was a list of 37 cooking oil products and MOHW officials would conduct investigations of the manufacturers because the products were suspected of containing fatty acid issues. The list consisted of Taisun Enterprise Co. (), Ting Hsin International Group (), and Taiwan Sugar Corporation ().
ROC Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA) – Vice Minister Woody Duh said that the MOEA Industrial Development Bureau was reviewing the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system and might require a manufacturer to present its export and import invoices and declarations to allow on-the-spot inspection for its production line when it seeks certification. He said that the MOEA will ensure that the GMP is a guarantee for safety, and without it, consumers will be exposed to unsafe foods.
ROC Environmental Protection Administration – Minister Stephen Shen said on 28 October 2013 that he would instruct local cleaning squads to accept and recycle oil bottles that still contain the adulterated oil.
Democratic Progressive Party – Former Chairman Shih Ming-teh said on 24 October 2013 that he and his friends would file a class-action lawsuit against Flavor Full Food Inc. to seek compensation over its adulterated oil products because his household's organic sesame oil was from the company. Any compensation he received from the lawsuit will be donated to charity organizations.
International responses
China