KONG Yen Biotech Co. Ltd., one of the biggest and most famous food manufacturers in Taiwan and owners of the “Gassho” brand, held a press conference Sunday acknowledging its involvement in the polluted oil case, apologizing to consumers and promising to recall all affected products as soon as possible.

    Kong Yen explained that it was because Chung Guann had earned government certification that the company outsourced production of its Gassho lard products to Chung Guann. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Chung Guann produced 4,611 barrels of Gassho lard for Kong Yen.

    In addition, the Taipei Department of Health (DOH) also issued Kong Yen with a NT$3 million (US$125,700) fine Sunday due to its unwillingness to provide procurement details to avoid inspection based on the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

    Kong Yen deputy general manager Li Shu-ling said that after learning that Chung Guann had brought in polluted oil to produce food products, Kong Yen started to recall affected products. According to company records.

    Kong Yen had already recalled 787 barrels before Saturday. In addition, it will keep tracking the rest of the products.

    In addition, she also explained to the DOH that it is because the company’s procurement details are complicated that they cannot be provided in a short period.

    Famous snack shop

    refunds millions

    Many customers bought traditional moon cakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, many of the traditional snack shops in Taiwan were also affected by the polluted oil issue.

    Famous traditional snack shop Li Gu pointed out that many customers came to the shop to return moon cakes in the past two days. Total refunds have reached millions of New Taiwan dollars.

    Between Sunday and Thursday, Li Gu will not sell any products but will instead focus on recalling all affected products and refunding its customers. Li Chang Fu-chih, owner of the shop, said she is also one of the victims in this case and she feels helpless facing this kind of situation.

    Li Gu stated that customers can take their receipts from March 1 to Sept. 4 to the shop for a refund.

    (SD-Agencies)