Taiwan Recalls Soybean Oil After Detecting Excessive Carcinogen Levels

Taiwan’s biggest food safety scandal in years centers on soybean salad oil produced by Central Union Oil Corporation containing excessive levels of benzo[a]pyrene. South China Morning Post reported that the Taichung-based company produced about 28,992 tonnes of the oil in 30 batches between April and June 2026 and supplied it to Fwusow Industry, Formosa Oilseed Processing and Taisun Enterprise.

Namchow Group detected abnormal levels of the substance during routine testing on May 13, 2026.

Central Union Oil Corporation was informed on June 11 but did not notify regulators until June 30. Taiwan’s government announced the contamination and recall measures on July 3. Benzo[a]pyrene is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The scandal has become a political liability for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party ahead of November’s local elections, South China Morning Post reported. In 2014 hundreds of tons of recycled waste and animal feed oil were illegally processed and sold in Taiwan.