Taiwan orders complete pullout of products linked to ‘gutter oil’ firm

Taiwan will begin removing all products linked to under-fire oil producer Chang Guann this Saturday over the “gutter oil” scandal, as authorities further questioned a company executive over imports.

The Food and Drug Administration of Taiwan ordered all food and cooking oil linked to the Kaohsiung-based supplier to be pulled from the shelves, effective as of “zero hour” on Saturday.

Outlets found to continue selling affected products – which were produced using any of 24 kinds of Chang Guann cooking oil – would face up to NT$3 million (HK$774,200) in fines,” said Chiang Yu-mei, the food authority’s deputy director-general.

The authority drafted an initial list of 249 food items – including instant noodles, crackers, buns and dumplings – which should no longer be sold. Fourteen of those items were sold in 12 other countries and territories, including Brazil, France, Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.

A health official noted that, with the recall of Chang Guann-related products, there could be little left for local food outlets to sell.

The administration would soon announce the total number of food items affected, the official said.