Taiwan seizes hundreds of tonnes of recycled waste oil

Taiwan police on Thursday busted a ring of six people selling hundreds of tonnes of recycled waste oil used for cooking, in a latest food scandal to rock the island.

A man surnamed Kuo and five others allegedly ran the illegal business of making recycled cooking oil from kitchen waste and grease of leather processing plants in about a dozen operations in Kaohsiung and neighboring Pingtung, according to the police.

Kuo's products were sold to a number of oil suppliers, including the island' s leading brand Chang Guann Co., the police said.

Kaohsiung-based Chang Guann bought 242 tonnes of the recycled oil from Kuo and mixed them to produce 782 tonnes lard, according to Taiwan' s food and drug watchdog.

Local public health officials have seized 2,934 barrels of possibly tainted lard in Chang Guann's factories on Thursday.

Chang Guann apologized to the public, claiming they had no idea of Kuo's doing.

Another well-known food manufacturer Wei Chuan Corp. also said on Thursday that they will recall meat products made with Chang Guann' s tainted oil.

The adulterated oil may have gone to snack shops and night markets, but is unlikely to be found in home kitchens, the authorities said.

The scandal has shocked local consumers. New Taipei resident Sylvia Lin said she was very disappointed.

"I hope the law could be revised to impose tougher punishment on those who breach food safety regulations," she said with anger.

Last October, olive oil in Taiwan was found to contain low quality substitutes and a banned coloring agent.