The head of a leading Taiwanese food company has been questioned in a widening food scandal involving several major cooking oil retailers, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Wei Yin-chun is chairman of Wei Chuan Foods, the Taiwanese unit of Ting Hsin International Group which owns the Master Kong instant noodle brand.
He was released on bail of NT$10 million (US$340,000) following an overnight interrogation on suspicion of fraud and violating the food safety law, prosecutors said.
Wei and five company executives are being investigated after a supplier that makes Wei Chuan-brand cooking oil was accused of using adulterated oil obtained from Changchi Foodstuff, which is at the centre of the growing scandal.
Wei has insisted that his company was unaware until recently that the oil purchased from Changchi contained the banned colouring agent copper chlorophyllin.
The Taiwanese-owned Ting Hsin International Group apologised on Tuesday after its Taiwan units were ordered to recall tens of thousands of bottles of cooking oil tainted with copper chlorophyllin.