8,700 items removed in Shanghai after oil scandal

Shanghai regulatory authority carried out inspections in supermarkets and removed about 8,700 products suspected of containing tainted oil from shelves, Shanghai Youth Daily reported on Wednesday.

Taiwan police busted a ring of six selling recycled cooking oil made from kitchen waste and grease from leather processing plants last Thursday. They found Chang Guann Co, a well-established cooking oil supplier, had purchased recycled oil to produce lard, most of which was sold to nearly 1,000 food companies and restaurants, including a number of leading brands.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said earlier on Saturday that they hadn't found any Taiwan food products made with tainted oil sold on the mainland market in a preliminary inspection.

But the authorities warned consumers to be more careful when shopping for food anywhere, including online, as tainted food might still be available on the Internet, according to the National Business Daily.

Chang Guann is said to have been a supplier to many Taiwan companies, including Taipei Leechi sesame meat pie, Sunbooth snacks and 85℃Bakery.

The AQSIQ has ordered local authorities to suspend inspection applications filed by the affected companies and restaurants, and to carefully examine their past export records.