Key Update

A hotpot restaurant in southwest China faced widespread backlash after a viral video showed one of its workers collecting used oil from a roadside rubbish bin. The clip, filmed on August 18, captured the woman in full restaurant uniform as she ladled oil from a swill bin into a plastic bucket — leading many to believe the oil was bound for reuse in food preparation. When a passerby questioned her, she gave an unclear response, claiming she had just started working there. The ambiguity raised alarm on social media, with users accusing the restaurant of recycling gutter oil — a banned and dangerous practice involving the reuse of waste oil in cooking.

Restaurant Denies Involvement; Authorities Confirm No Violation

As the video went viral, the restaurant clarified that the worker, recently hired, collected the oil on her own to sell to a sanitation company. She later admitted in a handwritten statement that her actions were personal and unrelated to the restaurant. Following an investigation, the Jiulong Subdistrict Market Supervision Office confirmed that the restaurant had followed proper waste disposal protocols and legally contracted a licensed recycler. Officials found no evidence of food safety violations and concluded the worker acted independently.

Food Safety Concerns Persist Despite Regulations

The incident has once again highlighted public concern over food safety and the illegal gutter oil trade in China. Despite tighter rules and regulatory crackdowns, the problem remains widespread, particularly among smaller food businesses.

Source:  The Indian Express