Cooking Oil Contamination Scandal Sparks Outrage Over Food Safety in China
Food safety is a critical issue that affects everyone's health and well-being. Recently, a Chinese state-owned food company and a private conglomerate have allegedly been using the same trucks to transport both cooking oil and fuel, without proper cleaning. This developing situation has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns about food contamination. As the backlash continues to grow, here's what to know about the cooking oil contamination scandal and its implications.
What was the report on cooking oil contamination?
According to an in-depth report published by the state-run newspaper Beijing News, it was an “open secret” in the transport industry that trucks were being used to carry both fuel and edible liquids like cooking oil, syrup and soybean oil without proper cleaning procedures. The malpractice was an attempt to cut costs and the report alleges it has been ongoing and involves significant food safety risks. In response, the food safety office of China’s State Council announced an interdepartmental investigation into the transportation of edible oil, with a promise to severely punish those found guilty.
Sinograin, the country’s official grain stocker, and Hopefull Grain and Oil Group, were the two companies named in the report. Other major edible oil manufacturers have quickly distanced themselves, issuing statements that they do not use fuel trucks to transport their products.
What are the health risks of oil contamination?
Experts quoted in state media have highlighted the serious health risks posed by transporting edible oils in fuel trucks. Liu Shaowei, a food safety expert cited by CCTV, explained that using “chemical tankers for edible oils will inevitably result in residual contamination.” This can potentially cause poisoning with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, leading to irreversible damage to organs like the liver and kidneys, according to the broadcaster.
While there is no specific law in China regulating food transportation, the experts noted that any type of transportation should use “dedicated containers, and non-edible vegetable oil tank trucks and containers are strictly prohibited for this purpose.”
Reactions and responses to the cooking oil contamination report
The cooking oil contamination scandal has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many calling for product recalls and increased oversight. State media have also been vocal in condemning the alleged practices.
Many have criticized the lack of accountability for powerful, government-linked entities. On heavily monitored social media platforms like Weibo (China’s equivalent of X), users expressed frustration over the potential contamination of essential food items. “Even the cooking oil essential to people’s daily lives has now become problematic… Ordinary people cannot be properly safeguarded… Now I just want to scoff at (phrases like) ‘rule of law’ and ‘serving the people’ whenever I see them,” one user wrote on the platform, according to CNN. Another user wrote, “Food safety is the most important issue."
In response, Sinograin pledged to stop working with any transport providers found to be violating safety regulations. “Sinograin requires all units in the system to strictly fulfill their responsibilities, abide by work standards and prevent contamination risks to grain and oil reserves,” the company stated its official Weibo account.
Hopefull Grain and Oil Group also stated that relevant departments are investigating the matter, per a staff member who spoke with state-run news outlet Economic View. An official announcement has not been made, though the staff member added the company did not own the tankers described in the report nor were there any issues regarding their oil products.
Historical context of food safety in China
Food security and safety are top priorities for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has linked them to national stability. “As the ruling party in China, if we cannot manage something as fundamental as food safety, and if we cannot address the issue and even allow it to persist without proper resolution over a long period, the party’s ability to govern will be challenged,” he said in a 2013 speech cited in a 2023 People’s Daily Report. According to the country’s Food Safety Law, food “must not be stored or transported together with toxic or harmful items.” Any cross contamination is considered a criminal offense and can lead to a prison sentence, while those found guilty of food poisoning resulting in a loss of life could face the death penalty.
However, China has a troubled history of food safety scandals, including the infamous 2008 Sanlu Milk scandal, where melamine-tainted (an industrial chemical) milk powder resulted in the deaths of six infants and the illness of 300,000 others. Other incidents, such as the sale of “gutter oil” and contaminated pickled cabbage, have also sparked public outcry and led to stricter regulations.
More food and beverage news:
Customers Aren’t Happy Over Costco’s New Rotisserie Chicken Packaging — Inside the Backlash
The Touching Reason AriZona Teas Are Keeping Their 99-Cent Price Tag: See the Message From Founder
