The Prosecutor's Office recently received information suggesting the sale of expired frozen foods at certain chain markets, then appointed Civil Crime department Chief Prosecutor Zhuang Ling-Ru, and Prosecutor Li Yu-zi leading MJIB to form a special team for investigation immediately. After collecting solid evidences, Prosecutor Li Yu-zi led the Kaohsiung City Investigation Division, along with the Kaohsiung Department of Health and FDA Southern Regional Center, to inspect the main and branch stores of the supermarket in Gushan and Lingya Districts in Kaohsiung on January 29, 2024. The team discovered 184 packages of food which been altered expiration dates and 81 packages food with suspected expiration, and brought back five suspects. After prosecutor interrogation, defendant Mr. Zhong (the owner, born in 1948) and Miss Huang (store manager, born in 1947) were both accused violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, aggravated fraud under the Criminal Code, and forging documents. Due to accusing is strongly suspected, they were granted bail of 2 million and 200,000 NTD separately, and the other three employees were released.

 The defendant Mr. Zhong, operated many chain fresh supermarkets in the wealthy resident area in Kaohsiung, known by selling internationally imported fresh products. Mr. Zhong and Miss Huang were clear aware of the actual shelf life of products, such as roasted sweet potato cake, sake-marinated red sea bream, custard fish cake, various raw meat and hot-pot ingredients, were less than one year. However, for gaining profits illegally, they opened various food items, repackaged them in transparent vacuum bags, instructed employees to use the  POS system to print fake labels indicating shelf life more than a year and affixed labels on the package. Then they sold these items to consumers at three stores. They also sold expired products as if they were still within the expiration period. The defendants profited unlawfully through this method. The prosecutor had instructed health officials to administratively seal the problem products found on-site and removing expired goods from the shelves. The prosecutor will investigate further and clarify the number of affected consumers and the details of illicit gains.

 As approaching Chinese lunar new year, the demand for holiday purchases increasing. Prosecutor's Office will continue to strengthen cooperation with local health authorities on the existing Livelihood Safety Platform to ensure safety of food. The Prosecutor's Office also urges food suppliers should abide the law, or would face legal consequences. The Prosecutor's Office always maintains zero-tolerance policy towards food safety violations to safeguard public security.