Premier Jiang Yi-huah has instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to get to the bottom of the recent recycled oil scandal.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said more than 200 tons of oil including oil taken from recycled kitchen waste and even the by-products of leather processing plants have been sold for human consumption in southern Taiwan over the past year. The administration said at least 235 domestic food companies and restaurants have used this recycled oil.
Investigators found that this questionable oil was sourced between February and August from people who used a phony waste processing company as a front to collect oil that was meant to be recycled.
Police say those involved in the scandal could be fined between NT$60,000 (US$2,000) and NT$50 million (US$1.6 million). Investigators have collected evidence including 17 oil tanks and 91 barrels of oil from the suspects.
The Cabinet has instructed the health ministry to take all of the tainted products off the shelves in the next two days. Meanwhile, the education ministry and the defense ministry will check to see if meals in schools and military bases have been prepared with the recycled oil.