There have been calls in Taiwan for an investigation into the brewing process of Chinese beers, following claims in a Taiwan newspaper that many brewers use the chemical methanol in the production of their brands.


The fears follow claims in the Liberty Times by Shenzhen-based Jinwei Beer Co that it is the first Chinese brewery to not use methanol. Methanol is a cancer-causing substance. It is a colourless, toxic, flammable liquid that can be used as an antifreeze, a general solvent, a fuel or a denaturant for ethyl alcohol.


However, Tsingtao, the China’s largest brewer has strongly denied that it uses methanol at all.


“Tsingtao has not added methanol to its beer for many decades,” Peter Tsai, deputy general manager of the company that distributes Tsingtao in Taiwan, the Taiwan Tsing Beer Corp.


Tsingtao has called Jinwei’s claim simply outrageous.


But Taiwan’s Consumers` Foundation is still urging the government to conduct an overall inspection on all beer brands imported from China.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.