Consumer groups expressed outraged over a court ruling earlier this week in a case involving two former senior executives of Flavor Full Foods (富味鄉) who, in a second trial, received suspended sentences and fines of NT$25 million (US$802,568) for mixing cottonseed oils into the company’s “pure” sesame oil products in 2013.
Consumer groups expressed anger at the Intellectual Property Court’s ruling, saying the punishment and fines were too lenient and the judgement had neglected the rights and welfare of the public.
In the first ruling by the Changhua District Court on Sept. 30 last year, Flavor Full Foods chairman Chen Wen-nan (陳文南) and his brother, Chen Jui-li (陳瑞禮), the company’s technical development director, were each sentenced to one year and four months in prison with a two year suspended sentence and fines of NT$25 million.
In the second ruling, handed down by the Intellectual Property Court on Tuesday, the Chen brothers were given a term of one year and 10 months, but suspended for four years, while the fines were upheld.
The ruling acquitted the company, while four employees who were indicted were found not guilty.
Consumers’ Foundation vice chairman Yu Kai-hsiung (游開雄) said that Tuesday’s ruling meant nothing to the Chen brothers, as they would not serve jail time.
“The Chen brothers have reaped high profits over the past seven years. The fine was too little, in proportion to the offense,” Yu said. “It is obvious that the judge ignored the rights and welfare of consumers. The company’s profits from their illegal practice should have been taken away, only then can it serve as a deterrent to unscrupulous business practice.”
In 2013, the Changhua District Prosecutors’ Office indicted the Chen brothers and four employees on seperate charges of fraud and contravening the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生管理法) by mixing cheaper and lower-grade oil into the so-called “pure” sesame oil products since at least 2009.
They were also accused of printing fraudulent labels — “100 percent pure black sesame oil” — to put on packaging to deceive consumers and downstream food manufacturers.
The Chen brothers were found guilty of fraud and convicted of the manufacture and sale of adulterated food and were fined NT$5 million on the first ruling. However, Tuesday’s ruling, the court, it said there was insufficient evidence and the fine was withdrawn.
A netizen surnamed Lin (林) wrote: “The rulings show that big business is in cohorts with those in political circles. Taiwanese are condemned to keep on eating adulterated food.”
A netizen surnamed Shih (施) said: “It is no wonder all these unethical, cheating food manufacturing companies are not afraid of breaking the law. This country’s system is full of corruption and deceit.”
Another netizen wrote: “Such is our justice system, this is why Taiwanese are suffering endless food scandals and disasters.”
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