Taipei: Two companies are under investigation for allegedly blending canola oil into products sold as “100% pure olive oil,” with 3,202 bottles recalled from online platforms as of Wednesday, authorities said Thursday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taipei City Government Department of Health has fined Rong and Chyi International Ltd. NT$4 million (US$127,277) for food mislabeling under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. The department is collaborating with prosecutors on a broader fraud investigation. A joint task force raided the company’s manufacturing site in New Taipei’s Shenkeng District on January 20 and discovered equipment used to blend canola oil into olive oil. Subsequent inspections at the company’s Taipei office revealed that its product, “Menzteler Olive Oil 100% Pure (2L),” had been mixed with canola oil and falsely labeled.

Authorities have initiated product tracing and recall procedures, notifying online platforms to remove the product and alerting health authorities in 17 cities and counties to inspect downstream purchasers. Businesses stocking or using the product have been urged to stop selling it and report to local agencies.

In a separate statement, the Investigation Bureau indicated that two companies were involved, with one importing olive oil from Italy and the other purchasing canola oil domestically. Allegedly, up to 500 liters of canola oil were blended into every 50 liters of olive oil before the mixture was refilled into empty bottles.

The operation is said to have generated about NT$15 million in illicit profits. The heads of the two companies were released on NT$800,000 bail each, while two employees were released on NT$200,000 bail.