Olive oil importer fined over mislabeled products, 3,202 bottles recalled

Taipei, Jan. 29 (CNA) Two companies are under investigation for allegedly blending canola oil into products sold as "100% pure olive oil," with 3,202 bottles recalled from online platforms as of Wednesday, authorities said Thursday.

The Taipei City Government Department of Health said it has fined Rong & Chyi International Ltd. NT$4 million (US$127,277) for food mislabeling under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and will continue working with prosecutors on a broader fraud investigation.

According to the department, a joint task force raided the company's manufacturing site in New Taipei's Shenkeng District on Jan. 20 and found equipment used to blend canola oil into olive oil. Subsequent inspections at the company's Taipei office found that its product, "Menzteler Olive Oil 100% Pure (2L)," had been mixed with canola oil and falsely labeled.

Authorities initiated product tracing and recall procedures, notifying online platforms to remove the product and alerting health authorities in 17 cities and counties to inspect downstream purchasers. Businesses that stocked or used the product were urged to stop selling it and report to local agencies.

In a separate statement, the Investigation Bureau said two companies were involved, with one importing olive oil from Italy and the other purchasing canola oil domestically. The two allegedly blended up to 500 liters of canola oil into every 50 liters of olive oil before refilling the mixture into empty bottles.

The operation generated about NT$15 million in illicit profits, the bureau said. The heads of the two companies were released on NT$800,000 bail each, while two employees were released on NT$200,000 bail.