Polam Kopitiam food poisoning survivors upset by light sentences｜Formosa English News

Bilingual text here: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026B12W02EA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description 雙語文字版: https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/news/2026B12W02EA?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description Our official website: ➔ https://english.ftvnews.com.tw/ Follow us on Facebook: ➔ https://www.facebook.com/ftvformosanews X (Twitter): ➔ https://x.com/FTV_Taiwan_News Six people died, yet the sentences handed down in the deadly Polam Kopitiam food poisoning case from 2024 have left survivors and victims’ families outraged. The heaviest sentence was 1 year and 10 months for the owner of the franchise. One survivor says the punishment is simply too lenient, as she continues to suffer serious kidney damage from the poisoning. The verdict has reignited a political firestorm, with victims’ families accusing Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s administration of failing to properly preserve evidence in the aftermath. - I am absolutely shocked. Six lives were lost. The sentence is way too light. Ms. Huang chokes back tears outside the courtroom. She is one of the survivors of the Polam Kopitiam mass food poisoning case, and says she can’t accept the sentence. Ms. Huang Polam Kopitiam food poisoning survivor It’s unreal, ludicrous. How can such a major incident be let go with such light punishment? After I got poisoned, I had Stage 3 chronic kidney disease, with a kidney function of just over 30%. I’ll probably start having to do kidney dialysis. Voice of Liu Shang-ming Lawyer for franchise owner Li Fang-hsuan During the subsequent testing process, one thing was clearly established: a lack of refrigeration alone would not have caused the rice noodles to develop the bacteria, which had never before been detected in Taiwan. The food poisoning case took place at a Polam Kopitiam branch in Taipei in 2024. Two cooks and an intern had served diners dishes that used rice noodles from opened bags that were being stored at room temperature. A total of 33 people contracted bongkrekic acid poisoning, and six died. The franchise owner has been sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison for negligent homicide. One of the cooks received a sentence of 8 months, the other a sentence of 6 months commutable to a fine, and an intern a sentence of 4 months also commutable to a fine. The store manager was acquitted of all charges. The food poisoning incident has become a political issue. In the recent mayoral debate for Taipei, Mayor Chiang Wan-an said he had made sure that Polam Kopitiam would be held accountable, and that all the victims and their families would receive compensation. The comment did not sit well with survivors and relatives, who found it triggering. Among them was Ms. Huang, who took part in a radio interview one day before the verdict. She recounted that she had once run into mayoral candidate Puma Shen and told him that Taipei’s response to the poisoning had been far too slow. Puma Shen Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP) The city government cannot shirk its responsibility to address municipal issues. As I’ve said before, the mayor does not control the courts. But the mayor is responsible for inspections, for seizing evidence or assets, ensuring investigations continue, and preventing those responsible from hiding or transferring their assets. Chiang Wan-an Taipei Mayor The court should impose a harsh sentence. I’ve long said that penalties under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation are not severe enough. That’s why we’ve been speaking with lawmakers to amend the law and increase the penalties. Chiang says he wants a harsh sentence. But victims and their families say they haven’t forgotten how his government botched investigations in the aftermath of the incident. For more Taiwan news, tune in: Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152 Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53 #ricenoodles #kopitiam #taipei #沈伯洋 #蔣萬安 #台灣新聞 #FormosaEnglishNews #民視新聞 #FTV新聞 #Taiwan