Carcinogenic Cooking Oil Crisis Escalates: Over 200,000 Protest on Ketagalan Boulevard Over DPP Government's Food Safety Failures

On July 25, 2026 (115th Year of the Republic of China), following a severe food safety scandal involving widespread carcinogenic contaminants detected in commercially distributed soybean salad oil, over 200,000 citizens rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The massive demonstration, organized by consumer protection groups and opposition coalitions, voiced vehement outrage over the Ministry of Health and Welfare's delayed response and evasion of responsibility. Opposition leaders strongly condemned the Lai Ching-te administration for prioritizing partisan political battles over public health and food safety, demanding a full forensic tracing of tainted oil batches, the immediate dismissal of accountable cabinet ministers, and a formal state apology to the nation.