Taiwan group seeks record damages in food scandal

TAIPEI—Taiwan’s Consumers Foundation said Friday it had launched a group lawsuit seeking a record Tw$7.8 billion ($260 million) in damages from companies for selling food and drink items containing banned chemicals.

The group said it filed the suit on behalf of 568 people against leading food producer Uni-President Enterprises and 38 other firms for allegedly using banned chemicals over a period of several years in food and drink products.

The foundation accused the companies of violating the civic code by selling flawed goods, as well as breaking the consumer protection law by failing to ensure the safety of their products, it said in a statement.

Taiwan’s government last year tightened the law on tainted food after various items were found to contain banned chemicals, which experts say can cause hormone problems in children.

The incident prompted a major recall of sports drinks, juice and other products in Taiwan, while China, South Korea, the Philippines and Hong Kong temporarily banned imports of certain food and drinks from the island.

Uni-President declined to comment on the case.