Taiwanese food companies have recalled about 1,300 tonnes of cooking oil products after finding they contained high levels of a cancer-causing chemical. The chemical, called benzopyrene, was found during an internal inspection.
Central Union Oil Corporation, a company based in Taichung, produced the affected soy-based oil. The company found that the oil contained 8.1 micrograms of benzopyrene per kilogram. This is much higher than the legal limit of 2 micrograms per kilogram in Taiwan. Benzopyrene is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer in humans.
The tainted oil was shipped between April 8 and April 10. Central Union sold the oil to three major Taiwanese food companies: Formosa Oilseed Processing Company (FOPCO), Fwusow Industry, and Taisun Enterprise. FOPCO received 588 tonnes, Fwusow received 421 tonnes, and Taisun received 291 tonnes. These companies used the oil to make 15 different products, which were sold in 3-liter and 18-liter bottles.
After being notified, the three companies immediately began removing the products from supermarket shelves and recalling them. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) and the Taichung City government inspected Central Union's facilities. They ordered the company to suspend its production while it reviews its manufacturing process to find the cause of the problem.
Under Taiwanese law, food oil companies must test their products regularly. The TFDA also works with third-party groups to test food oil. From 2022 to 2025, officials inspected 372 products from 240 companies and found no other issues. Health officials have advised people to stop using the recalled products and contact the companies to follow return instructions.