Tue, Aug 04, 2026 page2

• Prosecutors raid 17 locations in camellia oil fraud probe

  • By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA
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  Prosecutors today searched 17 locations and brought in seven people for questioning over allegations of fraud and false labeling of camellia oil products linked to Dynas International Corp (威加國際).

  The company is accused of importing camellia seeds from China, mixing them with other seeds and contracting Yuan Chuen oil mill (源春製油廠) in Chiayi County for processing, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said.

  Taipei prosecutors in a joint operation with Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office today raided 17 locations, including residences and offices connected to Dynas International and Yuan Chuen oil mill, and summoned seven people for questioning, the office said.

  

  Inspectors investigate Yuan Chuen oil mill in Chiayi County last week.

  Photo courtesy of the Chiayi County Government

  Yuen Foong Yu Biotech (永豐餘生技) last week reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that its own testing had detected benzoapyrene (BaP) in camellia oil products, the FDA said.

  The company reported that a batch of its 250ml bottles of camellia oil, made by Yuan Chuen and sold under the brand Green & Safe, contained a BaP concentration of 2.9 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg), exceeding Taiwan’s legal limit of 2 μg/kg, the FDA said.

  The agency said it launched an investigation together with the Taipei and Chiayi County health bureaus.

  The investigation found that Yuen Foong Yu Biotech had placed an order with Dynas International, which then commissioned Yuan Chuen oil mill to manufacture bulk camellia oil that was sent to Yes Job Industrial Co (亞世家企業) for bottling and labeling, it said.

  The same batch of raw camellia seeds was used to manufacture three products across six total batches, with expiration dates ranging from Jan. 2, 2028, to June 22, 2028, the FDA said.

  International Functional Food Co (國際機能) also reported a batch of its 500ml camellia oil supplied by the mill, with an expiration date of Dec. 25 next year, contained a BaP concentration of 2.6 μg/kg, the FDA said.

  A total of 780 bottles of camellia oil were produced from the affected batch, it said, adding that 773 bottles had been sold through retail outlets and the company’s official Web site, while one bottle was submitted by the company for testing.

  Another batch of 599 bottles, with an expiration date of May 24, 2028, had not yet been shipped, the FDA said, adding that the New Taipei City Department of Health has recalled all products.

  The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said it opened an investigation on Friday last week at the direction of the High Prosecutors’ Office.

  Prosecutors said they activated a coordination platform to analyze data provided by the FDA, which suggest that Dynas International imported Chinese camellia seeds to blend with other stock before outsourcing processing to Yuan Chuen oil mill.

  Given that Yuan Chun served as a contract manufacturer for multiple brands, prosecutors coordinated with the Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office to conduct the investigation, prosecutors said.
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