TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - Authorities seized 11.4 tons of expired meat from a frozen food company in Kaohsiung on Tuesday (July 9).

The Kaohsiung Department of Health said on Friday (July 12) that it imposed a heavier penalty of NT$8.4 million (US$258,188). The meat was distributed to four Kaohsiung establishments, the InterContinental Kaohsiung, We&win Hospitality, Metropolitan Living Development (MLD) Tailu, and MLD Yuepin, per CNA. 

All the expired meat has been removed from circulation. The Kaohsiung Department of Health said it confiscated and sealed the 11.4 tons of expired meat products, which included pork, chicken, duck, beef, and goose. 

The exact date of shipment, specific items, and quantities are still under investigation by the prosecutor's office.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said Friday that the health department received alerts in June and discovered food safety issues during the investigation. The department reported the case to prosecutors, identified the location of the expired meat, and coordinated its removal.

The oldest item was goose meat with a May 8, 2010 expiration date, 14 years past its sell-by date.

The person in charge of the company, surnamed Hsieh (謝), and a woman surnamed Lin (林) are suspected of false labeling and fraud. Their bail was set at NT$400,000 and NT$200,000, respectively.