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Taiwanese prosecutors will appeal against the surprise acquittal of a tycoon accused of selling tainted cooking oil, amid public anger over a series of food safety scares.
Wei Ying-chung, who could have faced a 30-year jail term if convicted, was found not guilty along with five others by the district court in the central county of Changhua on Friday.
The former chairman of Ting Hsin Oil and Fat Industrial was accused of selling oil intended for animal food.
READ MORE: Taiwan food company boss jailed for 20 years over ‘gutter oil’ scandal
The case prompted a recall, with hundreds of tonnes of products taken off the shelves.
"We will appeal according to the law, seeking to overturn the inappropriate verdict … to put food safety regulations into effect and curb unscrupulous business behaviour," the Changhua prosecutors' office said in a statement on Sunday.

Ting Hsin Oil is a unit of food giant Ting Hsin International Group - founded by Wei and his three brothers - which owns the Master Kong instant noodle brand popular in Taiwan and the mainland.
Wei was also chairman of Wei Chuan Foods Corp - also under the Ting Hsin group - which was involved in two other scandals including selling "gutter oil" - reclaimed from used cooking oil.
Wei Chuan also recalled tens of thousands of bottles of cooking oil tainted with a banned colouring agent in late 2013.
The head of another Taiwan firm was given a 20-year-sentence in July for his role in a "gutter oil" scandal in which hundreds of tonnes of cakes, bread, instant noodles and dumplings had to be removed from shelves in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Taiwan's government passed a tougher food safety law in 2013 but has since pushed for an amendment to raise jail terms and fines still further.


Taiwanese prosecutors in tainted cooking oil scandal plan appeal after tycoon acquitted 

A file picture of Wei Ying-chung of Ting Hsini Group escorted to court.

A chef apologises for using tainted lard in the Taiwan scandal. 

Cooking oil firm's boss appears in Taiwan court over food scandal

Wei Ying-chung was questioned on Thursday night by prosecutors for his company's allegedly selling edible oil blended with that meant for animal feed. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Taiwan food company boss jailed for 20 years over ‘gutter oil’ scandal

Yeh Wen-hsiang, chairman of Chang Guann, who has been jailed for 20 years over the 'gutter oil' scandal, made a public apology and drank a cup of his company's cooking oil at the height of the scandal to prove it was safe. Photo: CNA

Yeh Wen-hsiang, chairman of Chang Guann, drinks a cup of his company's cooking oil at the height of the scandal last September  to prove it was safe. Photo: CNA

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