8 more Ting Hsin-linked executives held in tainted cooking oil scandal
Growing anger in Taiwan as the public boycotts products linked to company at the centre of the latest allegations of contaminated food
Eight business executives have been arrested in Taiwan as the authorities investigate the latest contaminated cooking oil scandal to hit the island.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said company suppliers were alleged to have added oil meant for animal feed to its cooking oil products.
Some of the low-quality oil had been bought in Vietnam for over two years.
Consumer groups in Taiwan have called for a boycott of all Ting Hsin's products amid increasing public anger over food safety scandals on the island.
In a national security meeting last night, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou ordered the formation of a cross-department office to deal with food safety. He also called for cooperation between the government and the public to track down firms producing contaminated food.
The allegations surrounding Ting Hsin come after officials from another cooking oil producer, Chang Guann, were formally charged with using recycled food waste in its food products. Health minister Chiu Wen-ta resigned two weeks ago over the food scandals.