The Consumers’ Foundation filed a class-action suit with the Banciao District Court on Thursday, alleging that 37 downstream food distributors were liable in a plasticizer-contamination food scare that erupted last year.
The foundation filed the complaint on behalf of 568 consumers, who are seeking NT$7.87 billion (US$266 million) in compensation, the largest amount ever sought by the foundation in a lawsuit.
A total of 143 people are seeking damages from BioChain Biotech, a health supplement manufacturer, while Taiwan’s largest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, is being asked to pay NT$1.5 billion for selling the tainted food, the foundation said.
Consumers’ Foundation chairwoman Joann Su (蘇錦霞) said the group of consumers had appealed to the foundation for help between November last year and January this year, and she hoped the action would prompt businesses to improve food safety for consumers.
Consumers’ Foundation vice chairwoman Hsu Tse-yu (徐則鈺) added that under Taiwan’s Consumer Protection Act (消費者保護法), food distributors are also liable for damages if their products cause harm to consumers.
The discovery of plasticizer-tainted products in many processed foods, including sports drinks, juices, jams and bubble tea, forced a widespread recall of products in May last year.
Following the plasticizer scare, the foundation started a two-month survey in July last year to gauge consumers’ views on the incident. The survey, which collected 2,142 samples, showed consumers’ confidence was heavily affected.
More than half of respondents also said that consumers’ rights were not upheld and compensation was lacking during the incident, the poll showed.
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