Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
Update Date: 2010/03/01 18:12
By Gu Caiyan
Is the frying oil used by fast-food chains really safe? Last June, fast-food chains were found to have excessively high acid values in their oil, prompting them to launch advertising campaigns showcasing oil tests to restore consumer confidence. However, in January this year, the Taipei County Consumer Protection Officer conducted another round of inspections, revealing that two out of five well-known fast-food outlets in the county still had frying oil with acid values exceeding standards.
At the Xizhi Zhongxing branch of a major fast-food chain, the oil used for frying chicken burgers was found to contain acrylamide, which can be carcinogenic in excessive amounts. Similarly, the frying oil at a well-known pizza chain’s Xizhi Datong branch also tested positive for acrylamide. The companies claimed this was because they had planned to change the oil the night before but had not done so by the following morning, leading to the result.
Once again, a well-known fast-food chain is under fire. One angry customer confronted the store manager.
Customer: "Is this a misunderstanding? Don’t walk away—I’m not done talking!"
Business representative: "We have other matters to attend to, but we highly value our customers."
Customer: "That’s just lip service."
The frustration stems from discovering only after eating that the Xizhi Zhongxing and Tucheng Jincheng branches of this fast-food chain had frying oil with acid values exceeding standards. Six months ago, a nationwide scandal over frying oil erupted, with companies vowing to improve and even launching ad campaigns. Disgruntled customers now say it was all a lie.
While arguments continue, many still flock to buy fast food, including kindergarteners just out of school.
Reporter: "What’s your favorite food?"
Child: "Chicken nuggets and milk."
However, the fried chicken nuggets the little girl loves may not be safe to eat. At the Xizhi branch of this fast-food chain, the acid value in the oil used for frying chicken nuggets was nearly three times the standard limit of 2. The oil for chicken burgers and fried chicken had an acid value of 3.6, while the oil for fried fish fillets reached 6.7—all failing the test.
Chen Huimin, manager of the Xizhi Zhongxing branch: "When we were supposed to replace the oil, we didn’t do so immediately. This was pointed out by the Consumer Protection Officer."
Despite knowing the oil was substandard the night before, they still hadn’t changed it by the next morning—an inexcusable oversight. The Consumer Protection Officer also detected acrylamide, a carcinogenic compound easily produced when frying starches, in the oil at both the Xizhi Zhongxing branch and the well-known pizza chain’s Xizhi Datong branch. However, the Department of Health has yet to establish a standard for acrylamide levels.
Six months later, the oil issue persists, and the industry still owes consumers an explanation.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 100301/ 8/ 2195w. html
Fast Food Chain in Hot Water Again over Excessive Oil Acidity
By Gu Caiyan
Is the frying oil used by fast-food chains really safe? Last June, fast-food chains were found to have excessively high acid values in their oil, prompting them to launch advertising campaigns showcasing oil tests to restore consumer confidence. However, in January this year, the Taipei County Consumer Protection Officer conducted another round of inspections, revealing that two out of five well-known fast-food outlets in the county still had frying oil with acid values exceeding standards.
At the Xizhi Zhongxing branch of a major fast-food chain, the oil used for frying chicken burgers was found to contain acrylamide, which can be carcinogenic in excessive amounts. Similarly, the frying oil at a well-known pizza chain’s Xizhi Datong branch also tested positive for acrylamide. The companies claimed this was because they had planned to change the oil the night before but had not done so by the following morning, leading to the result.
Once again, a well-known fast-food chain is under fire. One angry customer confronted the store manager.
Customer: "Is this a misunderstanding? Don’t walk away—I’m not done talking!"
Business representative: "We have other matters to attend to, but we highly value our customers."
Customer: "That’s just lip service."
The frustration stems from discovering only after eating that the Xizhi Zhongxing and Tucheng Jincheng branches of this fast-food chain had frying oil with acid values exceeding standards. Six months ago, a nationwide scandal over frying oil erupted, with companies vowing to improve and even launching ad campaigns. Disgruntled customers now say it was all a lie.
While arguments continue, many still flock to buy fast food, including kindergarteners just out of school.
Reporter: "What’s your favorite food?"
Child: "Chicken nuggets and milk."
However, the fried chicken nuggets the little girl loves may not be safe to eat. At the Xizhi branch of this fast-food chain, the acid value in the oil used for frying chicken nuggets was nearly three times the standard limit of 2. The oil for chicken burgers and fried chicken had an acid value of 3.6, while the oil for fried fish fillets reached 6.7—all failing the test.
Chen Huimin, manager of the Xizhi Zhongxing branch: "When we were supposed to replace the oil, we didn’t do so immediately. This was pointed out by the Consumer Protection Officer."
Despite knowing the oil was substandard the night before, they still hadn’t changed it by the next morning—an inexcusable oversight. The Consumer Protection Officer also detected acrylamide, a carcinogenic compound easily produced when frying starches, in the oil at both the Xizhi Zhongxing branch and the well-known pizza chain’s Xizhi Datong branch. However, the Department of Health has yet to establish a standard for acrylamide levels.
Six months later, the oil issue persists, and the industry still owes consumers an explanation.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 100301/ 8/ 2195w. html