Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
China Times Electronic News
Wu Minjing, Hong Bizhen / Changhua Report
October 19, 2013
The investigation by Changhua prosecutors and the Health Bureau into the case of adulterated cooking oil by Tatung Chang Chi Food Company continues to expand like a snowball. Following the exposure of fraudulent practices in olive oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil, it was further discovered on the 18th that "Tatung Chili Oil" and "Tatung 100% Safflower Seed Oil" contained no chili or safflower seeds at all. Instead, they were made by blending salad oil with coloring agents and flavor enhancers. Even the most widely produced salad oil was found to be mixed with cottonseed oil, bringing the total number of violations to 83.
Prosecutors also investigate "pure" soy sauce
Additionally, the company's claim of "pure" brewed soy sauce has also drawn the attention of prosecutors due to the ongoing scandal, and an investigation may be launched concurrently.
Tatung initially gained fame by promoting its "pure peanut oil," selling it in traditional markets before expanding into sunflower oil and olive oil to grow its business. Apart from rising in popularity due to its mid-to-low price range, the company also enhanced consumer recognition and built its reputation by continuously developing new products, eventually securing a place among well-known brands.
Adding colorings and flavorings, then repackaging
The Changhua County Health Bureau found that to increase market share, Tatung would introduce "new" oil products every few months. However, these were merely repackaged and renamed, with the contents almost entirely consisting of salad oil, sunflower oil, and cheap cottonseed oil as base ingredients, supplemented with coloring agents and flavorings. Through this "Monkey King's 72 transformations," the company manipulated consumer preferences and gained their trust by constantly "changing, changing, changing!"
The Health Bureau pointed out that Tatung "mixed things up excessively." Not only did its so-called pure olive oil contain cottonseed oil and salad oil, but one type of olive oil had no olive oil at all. A series of 15 peanut oils and 5 sesame oils also contained no peanuts or sesame. Yesterday, four types of "Tatung Chili Oil" were found to contain no chili, and "Tatung 100% Safflower Seed Oil" had no safflower seeds—both were flavored with red coloring and artificial flavors. Meanwhile, "Tatung 100% Camellia Oil" contained only 20% camellia oil, with the rest mostly being sunflower oil.
Crude cottonseed oil may cause infertility
Surprisingly, Tatung's most widely produced and commonly consumed budget salad oil series was also found to contain cottonseed oil in its formula, suggesting even salad oil was adulterated. However, while Tatung Chairman Kao Chen-li admitted to violations such as adding copper chlorophyllin, adulterating olive oil, and false labeling, he insisted it was "impossible" for salad oil to contain cottonseed oil. Prosecutors are still investigating further.
Changhua County Health Bureau Director Yeh Yen-po noted that cottonseed oil costs less than half the price of salad oil and is rarely consumed in Taiwan. Professor Chang Chi-yu from Dayeh University's Food Biotechnology Department explained that cottonseed oil contains gossypol, which gives it a darker red hue compared to other oils. While refined cottonseed oil is safe for consumption, consuming crude cottonseed oil can damage sperm-producing cells, leading to infertility, and may also cause chronic poisoning, resulting in symptoms like itchy skin (as if pricked by needles) and chest tightness.
Huang Chih-yung, spokesperson for the Changhua District Prosecutors' Office, stated that Tatung Chang Chi Food Company's oil products, due to their widespread distribution, directly impact consumer health. Therefore, the primary task for investigators was to seal and remove all adulterated oil products from shelves, a process completed yesterday. The next step will involve examining seized account books and cross-referencing relevant data.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E5……B983% E7% A8% AE- 213000036. html
No Chili in Chili Oil: 83 Types of Rotten Cooking Oil
Wu Minjing, Hong Bizhen / Changhua Report
October 19, 2013
The investigation by Changhua prosecutors and the Health Bureau into the case of adulterated cooking oil by Tatung Chang Chi Food Company continues to expand like a snowball. Following the exposure of fraudulent practices in olive oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil, it was further discovered on the 18th that "Tatung Chili Oil" and "Tatung 100% Safflower Seed Oil" contained no chili or safflower seeds at all. Instead, they were made by blending salad oil with coloring agents and flavor enhancers. Even the most widely produced salad oil was found to be mixed with cottonseed oil, bringing the total number of violations to 83.
Prosecutors also investigate "pure" soy sauce
Additionally, the company's claim of "pure" brewed soy sauce has also drawn the attention of prosecutors due to the ongoing scandal, and an investigation may be launched concurrently.
Tatung initially gained fame by promoting its "pure peanut oil," selling it in traditional markets before expanding into sunflower oil and olive oil to grow its business. Apart from rising in popularity due to its mid-to-low price range, the company also enhanced consumer recognition and built its reputation by continuously developing new products, eventually securing a place among well-known brands.
Adding colorings and flavorings, then repackaging
The Changhua County Health Bureau found that to increase market share, Tatung would introduce "new" oil products every few months. However, these were merely repackaged and renamed, with the contents almost entirely consisting of salad oil, sunflower oil, and cheap cottonseed oil as base ingredients, supplemented with coloring agents and flavorings. Through this "Monkey King's 72 transformations," the company manipulated consumer preferences and gained their trust by constantly "changing, changing, changing!"
The Health Bureau pointed out that Tatung "mixed things up excessively." Not only did its so-called pure olive oil contain cottonseed oil and salad oil, but one type of olive oil had no olive oil at all. A series of 15 peanut oils and 5 sesame oils also contained no peanuts or sesame. Yesterday, four types of "Tatung Chili Oil" were found to contain no chili, and "Tatung 100% Safflower Seed Oil" had no safflower seeds—both were flavored with red coloring and artificial flavors. Meanwhile, "Tatung 100% Camellia Oil" contained only 20% camellia oil, with the rest mostly being sunflower oil.
Crude cottonseed oil may cause infertility
Surprisingly, Tatung's most widely produced and commonly consumed budget salad oil series was also found to contain cottonseed oil in its formula, suggesting even salad oil was adulterated. However, while Tatung Chairman Kao Chen-li admitted to violations such as adding copper chlorophyllin, adulterating olive oil, and false labeling, he insisted it was "impossible" for salad oil to contain cottonseed oil. Prosecutors are still investigating further.
Changhua County Health Bureau Director Yeh Yen-po noted that cottonseed oil costs less than half the price of salad oil and is rarely consumed in Taiwan. Professor Chang Chi-yu from Dayeh University's Food Biotechnology Department explained that cottonseed oil contains gossypol, which gives it a darker red hue compared to other oils. While refined cottonseed oil is safe for consumption, consuming crude cottonseed oil can damage sperm-producing cells, leading to infertility, and may also cause chronic poisoning, resulting in symptoms like itchy skin (as if pricked by needles) and chest tightness.
Huang Chih-yung, spokesperson for the Changhua District Prosecutors' Office, stated that Tatung Chang Chi Food Company's oil products, due to their widespread distribution, directly impact consumer health. Therefore, the primary task for investigators was to seal and remove all adulterated oil products from shelves, a process completed yesterday. The next step will involve examining seized account books and cross-referencing relevant data.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E5……B983% E7% A8% AE- 213000036. html