Changhua County Public Health Bureau (CCPHB) allegedly received a tip-off that Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory was making cooking oils, including peanut, chili and olive, under the brand name Tatung, which did not contain any trace of the advertised ingredients.
It is accused of adulterating products, deceptive advertising and putting different labels on the same line of products.
40% imported cottonseed oil
“Sticking a new label on a product means you've produced a new product, and we determine the degree of punishment by the number of intentionally mislabeled products. For every five oils relabeled the punishment increases fivefold,” said Yeh Yen-bo CCPHB commissioner.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, as much as 40% of imported cottonseed oil was ordered by the company, while 60% was used for oil production in many other food factories.
It said Kao Cheng-li, head of the company, had produced 134 products with about 30 formulas.
Under investigation
Aside from using copper cholorphyllin, an additive made from plant extracts, the company reportedly imported 3,000 tons of cottonseed oil from October 2012 to 2013, said Pan Jyh-quan of the Department of Health's (DOH) Food and Drug Division.
Yen-bo added the company is currently under investigation and a decision will be made once all products have been inspected.
“We are 16 types short from completing a full investigation, as some products are not in stock and some have been sold to retailers already,” said Yen-bo.
If found guilty, the edible oil manufacturer stands accused of defrauding consumers for the past seven years said The China Post.