Chen Mao-chia being taken to a detention center Tuesday morning.

Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) A top executive of Ting Hsin Oil & Fat Industrial Co. and another two from Cheng I Food Co. were detained by prosecutors Tuesday in connection with a recent food safety scandal centered on cooking oils.

Ting Hsin Oil & Fat Chairman Chen Mao-chia was taken into custody after more than 10 hours of questioning by prosecutors in Changhua County overnight, following a search of the company.

In Kaohsiung, Cheng I President Ho Yu-jen and deputy chief procurement officer Hu Chin-min were also placed under detention.

The two companies, both units of food conglomerate Ting Hsin International Group, are accused of using lard meant for animal feed in their edible oil products.

The incident -- the third oil-related scandal to hit the conglomerate within a year -- has sparked widespread outrage among consumers in Taiwan, leading to a campaign to boycott the group's products and brands.

In the face of the crisis, Wei Ying-chung, former chairman of Cheng I and Ting Hsin Oil & Fat, held a news conference on Oct. 11 to apologize to the public.

He also announced that the two companies would suspend their operations until their procedures are improved.

(By Chang Che-fon, Wu Jhe-hao and Y.F. Low)
ENDITEM/ls

Related stories:
●Oct. 13: Latest scandal dredges up earlier indictment against Ting Hsin Oil
●Oct. 12: Fifth suspect detained in edible oil scandal
●Oct. 8: Ting Hsin back in hot water over new oil scandal at subsidiary