A shocking investigative report by Beijing News has uncovered a disturbing practice that has left Chinese consumers reeling – major companies have been using unwashed fuel tankers to transport edible cooking oil.
The bombshell revelations have sparked a nationwide panic and a surge in demand for imported oils, as the public grapples with the unsettling thought of potential fuel contamination in their kitchens.
According to the report, two prominent Chinese firms were found to be cutting corners by failing to properly clean their tanker trucks between transporting fuel and cooking oil. Instead, they allegedly obtained fake cleanliness certificates from third-party companies to deceive customers.
The State Council has promised a full investigation and crackdown on this unlawful practice, which is said to be widely known within the industry as a cost-saving measure. However, this is not the first time China has faced such food safety scandals.
“It is not about a lack of food safety laws,” said food safety expert Liang Wei. “The problem is that enforcement has been lax, and by the time these breaches are discovered, the issue is already widespread.”
Indeed, similar practices of transporting edible oils in improperly cleaned vehicles were reported in 2005 and 2015. There have also been troubling “gutter oil” scandals, where used cooking oil was recycled from drains and grease traps before being resold to restaurants.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the crucial role of a fearless media in protecting the public interest. Beijing News reporter Han Futao’s investigation has been widely credited for bringing this issue to light. However, the aftermath has been concerning, with Han’s social media account being deleted and an app that tracks truck movements being disabled.
“This shows the importance of maintaining a free press that can hold the powerful accountable,” said media analyst Jiang Fei. “Without courageous reporting, the public would have remained unaware of these dangerous practices.”
As the government promises a swift response, Chinese consumers are left to grapple with the unsettling prospect that the cooking oil in their homes may have been transported in fuel tankers. The incident serves as a sobering reminder that while China may have some of the world’s strictest food safety laws, enforcement remains a persistent challenge.
