Premier Jiang Yi-huah has reaffirmed the government’s determination to eliminate law-breaking food manufacturers amid a new food scare linked to lard-based cooking oils.
During a news conference called on Saturday morning to address food safety issues, Jiang said he had directed the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice to take swift action and track down all involved manufacturers.
Jiang said more lard products may have to be recalled over the coming week as details emerge, which could result in a temporary shortage of such products. He said as an emergency measure, the government would allow the importation of lard or pork fat from abroad to meet market demand.
Cheng I Food Co., a subsidiary of industry giant Ting Hsin International Group, was exposed Wednesday as having sold lard mixed with oil meant for animal feed. This affected hundreds of downstream food makers, including the prestigious I-Mei Foods Co.
The scandal was uncovered one month after Chang Guann Co., another cooking oil maker, was found to have used recycled cooking oil and animal feed oil imported from Hong Kong in lard-based oil products.