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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》 Oil contamination under investigation
The entrance to Central Union Oil Corp’s factory in Taichung is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times
HELD INCOMMUNICADO:Eleven defendants have been summoned for questioning and equipment, e-mails and storage devices have been seized, the Prosecutors’ Office said
By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA
The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday requested the detention of the general manager of Central Union Oil Corp （CUOC） in connection with a case of contaminated cooking oil products.
Prosecutors asked that the man surnamed Yu （余） be held incommunicado on suspicion of contravening the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation （食品安全衛生管理法）.
Ten other defendants were released on bail amounts ranging from NT$500,000 to NT$20 million （US$15,539 to US$621,543）, prosecutors said in a statement.
Investigators on Thursday searched six locations linked to four companies: CUOC, Fwusow Industry Co, Formosa Oilseed Processing Co and Taisun Enterprise Co, prosecutors said.
They seized equipment, e-mails, meeting records, inspection reports, shipping documents, production records, import declarations, USB storage devices, mobile phones, oil storage tanks and other items believed to be related to the alleged offenses, as well as suspected illicit gains, prosecutors said.
Eleven defendants were summoned for questioning, including Yu, a CUOC chairman surnamed Tsai （蔡）, a CUOC factory director surnamed Chen （陳） and a Taisun Enterprise chairman surnamed Liu （劉）, as well as 13 witnesses.
After reviewing evidence and witness testimony, prosecutors suspect that the 11 defendants contravened the food safety act, the statement said.
Yu is suspected of attempting to destroy or falsify evidence and collude with accomplices or witnesses, prosecutors said.
The court was asked to detain Yu and hold him incommunicado, they said.
The investigation would focus on the source of the oil products, manufacturing processes, testing records, distribution and sales channels, as well as the involvement of personnel at the companies concerned, prosecutors added.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration （FDA） yesterday updated its Web site concerning CUOC, releasing a list that tracks the distribution of 29 batches of oil products between April and June.
Fwusow, Formosa Oilseed Processing and Taisun used the affected oils in 49 products that were later distributed to downstream businesses, FDA said, adding that the products have since been pulled from shelves as a precaution under government orders and would only be allowed back on sale after the upstream raw materials are tested and confirmed safe.
Separately, yesterday McDonald’s Taiwan said the cooking oil used for frying at its restaurants is imported sunflower oil, not soybean salad oil, and that none of its ingredients contain the oil products flagged by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
In response to the ministry’s expanded precautionary removal measures, it has temporarily adjusted some products, it said, adding that the thousand island dressing for its seasonal salad has been suspended, while the sauce used in its breakfast egg burger series has been replaced.
Additional reporting by Hou Chia-yu
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
