Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation into the latest tainted oil scandal.
So far, the investigation has found that an edible oil company under the Ting Hsing International Group may have mixed imported lard meant for animal feed with oil meant for human consumption.
Speaking at the legislature on Monday, FDA official Feng Ruenn-lan said the Vietnamese company that produced the lard is a legal manufacturer of lard for use in animal feed. Feng said two more Taiwanese food companies have also imported the same product from the same company.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnamese company, located in Ho Chi Minh City, abided by the rules and other screening tests before exporting its products to Taiwan. But the ministry said the suet manufactured by the company was intended for animal feed only, and not suitable for human beings.
The owner of the Vietnamese company, a Taiwanese businessman, has been detained.