The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office is calling for a heavy punishment for the former CEO of Wei Chuan Foods Corporation Wei Ying-chun. He has been indicted for fraud, forgery and food-related regulatory violations for his role in an oil adulteration scandal that erupted last year
Prosecutors said in 2007, Wei Chuan replaced its original Spanish supplier of olive oil and grape seed oil with Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory. Chang Chi used cottonseed oil and other cheap oils in its more
expensive grape seed and olive oils. It also used copper chlorophyllin to make the substitutes look more like olive oil. Prosecutors said that even though the company knew Chang Chi’s oil was substandard, Wei ordered the company to continue to use it.
Last October, when Tatung’s tainted oil scandal came out, Wei sent their oil products to be checked. Wei Chuan’s oil was also found to be tainted, but prosecutors said the company covered it up and fabricated a false report claiming their oil met quality standards. Prosecutors said Wei Chuan then used Wei’s name to release an affidavit to show distributors that its oil was not tainted.
The office said Wei is guilty of destroying the image of Taiwan’s food industry and creating public anxiety over food safety. Prosecutors said Wei used the company’s good image to deceive consumers and harm their health with tainted oil.
The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted 13 people including Wei Ying-chun, Wei Chuan employees and those who made the false report.