Tainted Taiwanese oil has not reached mainland

The Chinese mainland has not found any imports of the tainted cooking oil discovered in Taiwan recently, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Initial inspection by the quality supervision and quarantine agencies shows that the mainland has not imported tainted cooking oil from Chang Guann Co.," said Ma Xiaoguang of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office at a press conference.

In the latest food scandal, Taiwanese police last week busted a ring selling hundreds of tonnes of recycled cooking oil made from kitchen waste and grease from leather processing plants.

Chang Guann Co., a well-established cooking oil supplier in Taiwan, purchased the recycled oil to produce 782 tonnes of lard, with 645 tonnes sold to 971 food companies and restaurants including a number of leading brands.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has ordered local agencies to suspend inspection applications filed by the affected companies and restaurants, and thoroughly examine past import records, Ma said.

If any imports of the tainted products are found, they will be instantly recalled and pulled from shelves, he added.

As the investigation is ongoing, the spokesman called on authorities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to enhance communication so as to safeguard the health of compatriots.