At the center of the scandal is a local lard supplier, Chang Guann, which has been fined TWD50m (US$1.67m) by public health authorities for selling a product made from a mix of animal feed oil and gutter oil for use as edible lard in food products.
The head of that firm, his deputy and a third employee have all been charged with violating food safety regulations and fraudulently selling gutter oil to 235 companies since March, reports the South China Morning Post.
The owner of an illegal edible oil recycling factory that sold ‘gutter oil’ to Chang Guann has also been accused of the same offences.
In addition, three executives from animal feed manufacturer, Ching Wei, which was accused of buying ‘gutter oil’ from the same illegal factory for use in its pig feed products, as well as a senior staff member from another feed manufacturer, have been charged of illegally recycling waste, said Taiwanese prosecutors