Four out of 22 camellia oil products sold in Changhua County failed safety tests for a cancer-causing chemical, bad news for shoppers who buy the popular cooking oil.

• Health inspectors found benzopyrene above legal limits in four brands of camellia oil.
• The products have been ordered off shelves, and makers and suppliers are under investigation.
• Benzopyrene forms when organic material burns or is processed at high heat, and it builds up easily in oily foods.
• It is classed as a known human cancer risk, though the danger comes from long-term exposure, not a single meal.
• Public health officials say there is no need to panic and warn against unproven detox remedies.

Outlook: Regulators are tracing the oil back to its source suppliers, so more recalls or penalties are likely in the coming weeks.