Beihai oil downstream products: Tainan Jiali Farmers' Association has not yet removed them from shelves; Health Bureau: fines will be imposed in accordance with the law

Feed-grade oil from Pei Hai Oil & Fat flowed into Gourmet Food Ingredients Distribution Co., Ltd. When the Taipei City Department of Health traced the supply chain, it found that the well-known steakhouse chain Mr. Onion (Tianmu Onion Co., Ltd.) had purchased 5,340 kg of "old-time fragrant lard (15 kg packs)" from Gourmet this year, using it to make "smoked salmon fried rice" and staff meals. Of the chain's 27 stores across Taiwan, China, only the Xinyi ATT store escaped because it opened only in October and had not yet taken delivery of the product.

Tianmu Onion Co. also issued a statement on its official website today, saying that when the first wave of substandard lard broke out on September 5, it took precautionary measures and switched all lard to salad oil; on November 4, after seeing media reports that Gourmet had used Pei Hai Oil & Fat's "old-time fragrant lard," the company conducted an inventory check and immediately reported voluntarily to the Taipei City Government. It expressed deep regret over the incident and said it expected to announce a response plan on its official website at 6 p.m. on the 10th of this month.

The Taipei City Department of Health also confirmed that Tianmu Onion had already discontinued lard on a precautionary basis on September 10 and switched to vegetable oil, commissioning Luan Bao Clean Transport Co. to collect the remaining 20.7 drums of "old-time fragrant lard." If consumers have questions about follow-up compensation information, they can call the Taipei City Government consumer hotline at 02-27256169 or 1950.

Problem products from the Jiali Farmers' Association in Tainan Have Not Yet Been Removed from Shelves

The Food and Drug Administration required that all problem products from Pei Hai Oil & Fat be removed from shelves by today, but when the Tainan City Government Department of Health conducted inspections today, it found that two businesses within its jurisdiction were still selling products made with the problem oil: Rui Cheng Hao's fried shallot crisp, and the Jiali District Farmers' Association's Gan Cui Fresh Supermarket's fried shallot crisp, fried garlic crisp and shallot oil. The businesses have been asked to remove the products immediately and return them to the upstream manufacturer.

The Tainan City Department of Health said that after interviews under the Administrative Procedure Act, it will impose penalties in accordance with the law. Under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, a fine of no less than NT$30,000 and no more than NT$3 million may be imposed; in serious cases, the business may also be ordered to suspend operations, close for a certain period, or have all or part of its company, business or factory registration revoked.