Chinese authorities have imposed heavy penalties on companies and individuals involved in a scandal where edible vegetable oil was transported in tanks that were previously used to haul nonfood substances.
The scandal emerged in early July when media reports revealed that some truck drivers were transporting edible oil, coal oil and other inedible substances in the same tanks without proper cleaning between usage.
The central government quickly dispatched an investigation team to four regions — Tianjin, Hebei province, Shaanxi province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region — after the reports sparked public outrage.
According to the latest update from the investigation team released on Sunday night, a driver surnamed Yao, whose truck is registered in Xingtai, Hebei, unloaded coal oil in Shijiazhuang and then transported edible oil from Tianjin to Shaanxi province without properly cleaning the tank. The truck's owner, surnamed Gao, collaborated with others to produce fake cleaning service invoices in early July.
Another driver, surnamed Zhang, transported edible oil from Hebei to Inner Mongolia shortly after unloading coal oil from the same tank.
Zhang claimed the tank was cleaned before loading edible oil, but public security officials found no qualified cleaning service providers near where Zhang's truck had unloaded coal oil.
The investigation revealed that Yao's truck transported 35.91 metric tons of contaminated edible oil, with 11 tons used to produce feed and the remaining 24.91 tons sealed.
Zhang's truck transported 31.86 tons of contaminated edible oil, with 2.48 tons sealed and 7.78 tons of packaged contaminated oil recovered. The remaining 21.6 tons were used in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
Penalties were imposed on several companies, including Hebei Xingtai Zhuoran United Transport Fleet and Hebei Xingtai Haoyuan Logistics Co, which were fined and had their business licenses revoked. Other companies, including Hebei Xingtai Jingu Cang Logistics Co, Shaanxi Mianxian Xinli Oil Co, Inner Mongolia Ordos Baishenglong Grain and Oil Co, Sinograin Oils (Tianjin) Co, and Hebei Sanhe Huifu Grain and Oil Group Refined Vegetable Oil Co were either fined or issued warnings.
The investigation team said that tanks or equipment used to store and transport food must be safe, clean and free from toxic or harmful substances to prevent contamination.
"These companies and individuals acted against common sense, trampled on ethics and violated laws, committing criminal acts," the team said.
Yao and Zhang, along with the owners of the trucks they used, have been detained, and authorities are investigating whether they should be held criminally responsible.
Both trucks involved in the oil safety case were from Xingtai, where local officials are now under investigation for lax oversight of tank use.
The central government has pledged to continue investigating edible oil transportation and cracking down on illegal activities with "zero tolerance" to ensure food safety. Authorities are encouraging the media and the public to report any food safety concerns.
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