"Taiwan gutter oil scandal spreads to Hong Kong", 8 Sept 2014

An investigation has been launched after oil from a Taiwanese company accused of using illegally recycled products - including fat collected from grease traps - was exported to the southern Chinese city. Taiwanese authorities say a factory in the south of the island illegally used 243 tonnes of tainted products, often referred to as "gutter oil", to mix into lard oil in a case that has reignited regional concerns about food safety standards. The lard oil - a clear oil pressed from pig fat - was supplied to at least 900 restaurants and bakeries in Taiwan. The owner of the factory was arrested Sunday. The scare has now spread to Hong Kong, with local chains forced to pull products from their shelves and food safety experts ramping up spot checks...Chang Guann, the Taiwanese oil manufacturer at the heart of the scandal...has apologised for the scandal but said it was unaware the oils were recycled...[refers to Bafang Yunji, Maxim's, McDonald's Wellcome]