EVA Air and Mandarin Airlines temporarily suspend use of Formosa Oilseed Processing plant-based oil products in in-flight meals

▲ Illustration of in-flight meals. (Image / Screenshot from Thrillist website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive report

The Taoyuan Health Bureau discovered that Formosa Chemicals had imported butter, coconut oil, and palm oil under industrial-use customs declarations without completing food import inspection and registration. EVA Group stated on the 15th that EVA Air Catering, which uses Formosa Oilseed Processing plant-based oil products to prepare in-flight meals, will conduct a precautionary withdrawal of such products. Mandarin Air Catering, which supplies in-flight meals for China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Mandarin Airlines, also announced the continued precautionary removal of two related Formosa oil products. In-flight meals from 2:00 p.m. on the 15th onward will no longer use these products until evaluations confirm the safety of Formosa's products.

EVA Group also issued two statements:
1. EVA Air Catering does not use Formosa’s pork or beef animal-based oil products. The plant-based products it used have now been suspended.
2. EVA Air Catering will closely monitor event-related information and follow the instructions of the competent authorities to make appropriate adjustments.

TransAsia Airways stated that after an investigation, it found that TransAsia Air Catering did not purchase any Formosa raw materials, and its in-flight meals do not contain Formosa products.

TransAsia’s bakery uses Formosa’s puff pastry semi-finished products, which are not on the withdrawal list. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has also notified that this semi-finished product is safe for consumption and will continue to be used. However, as a precaution, they have also requested Formosa to provide a quality certificate. (News source: CNA)