President Ma Ying-jeou took a hard line on Sunday against companies who are found to be violating food safety laws. He was speaking on the campaign trail in the eastern county of Hualien, in his capacity as chairman of the ruling party – the Kuomintang (KMT).
The president’s remarks came in light of a recent string of food safety scandals involving edible oils. Ma said that the government would not go easy on companies that are suspected of selling contaminated or illegal food products. He said that the government has already seized the assets of five companies to prevent them from avoiding responsibility. Meanwhile, he said, authorities are continuing to look into companies that are breaking food safety laws.
During his campaign stop in Hualien on Sunday, the president touted the beautiful food, scenery, and virtues of eastern Taiwan. But he said that recent food safety concerns meant that the government needed to work harder to win back the confidence of the general public.
President Ma said that checks would soon be completed on companies selling edible oils. He said that if Taiwan has a shortage of lard, the government can increase imports. Fortunately, Ma said, lard accounts for just 10% of local oil sales, and imports from Japan and Spain have been able to help meet the demand.