Premier Jiang Yi-huah today ordered the Ministry of Health and Welfare and other agencies to complete their investigation into Cheng I Food Co. as quickly as possible, after allegations surfaced that the subsidiary of the industry giant Ting Hsing International Group had been mixing animal feed into its lard-based products.
“We must determine the full extent of the impact and trace the flow of all affected products. Our measures must be clear, forceful and swift, and our explanations to the public completely transparent.”
Since early September when another oil maker Chang Guann Co. was found to be manufacturing lard oil from kitchen waste oil and industrial grease, government agencies have been looking very closely at other upstream suppliers as well as downstream food manufacturing processes, Jiang said.
On Wednesday, Tainan District Prosecutors Office announced the discovery that a former employee of Wei Chuan Foods Corp.—another subsidiary of Ting Hsing—was selling non-edible oils as edible lard to Cheng I, which then distributed the adulterated products to other food businesses. Due to the severity of the alleged crime, Tainan prosecutors have obtained a court order to hold the former employee incommunicado.
Premier Jiang said the Executive Yuan had earlier announced eight measures for boosting Taiwan’s food safety system and has convened numerous meetings of government agencies, directing authorities to strengthen their protective measures and lay out concrete plans and timelines. These plans should be thoroughly implemented so that the proper safeguards will be put in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future, the premier said.
The suspect in the latest incident has been charged with fraud in violation of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, a crime that not only harms the health of citizens but openly challenges the government’s authority, Jiang said. The premier ordered authorities not to hold back during their investigations but to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
Aside from eliminating the hazards and meting out severe punishment, the government will also provide administrative assistance through a special task force to help the businesses, consumers and exporters affected by this incident, Jiang pledged. He instructed Minister without Portfolio Chiang Been-huang to coordinate the agencies involved in determining the details of the case, deciding response measures, and resolving the case as early as possible.