Taiwanese makers of popular Master Kong noodles involved in cooking oil scandal
In Taiwan's latest food controversy, companies have produced cooking oil with illegal additives
A multitude of Taiwanese companies have become embroiled in a tainted oil food scare, including the owners of popular instant noodle and beverage brand Master Kong.
Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that at least 12 different cooking oils manufactured by local companies contained prohibited additives such as copper chlorophyllin, a cheap colouring agent banned from cooking oils for its potentially dangerous effects to the liver.
The companies implicated in the scandal were many of Taiwan’s major food providers, including Twusow Industry, Taisun Enterprise, Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory and Ting Hsin International Group, owners of the Master Kong instant noodle brand.
In a Taipei press conference, Wei Yin-chun, chairman of Ting Hsin International Group subsidiary Wei Chuan Foods, claimed that the prohibited additives had not been added knowingly.
“We apologise to the shareholders and the general public for the unrest caused to you,” Wei said.