According to the state media, China’s food security commission is set to check the rumored use of gas tanker trucks for the transportation of cooking oil. The discovery has drawn severe criticism and raised concerns about food contamination in a country where many food and drug safety scandals have erupted in recent years.
According to CNN, the incident involves China’s largest corn storage and transportation business, Sinograin, and secret company, Hopefull Grain and Oil Group. Both businesses have stated that studies are being conducted.
Without properly cleaning the ships between shipments, Sinograin’s gas ships were discovered last year, according to the local newspaper The Beijing News, which reported last year. According to state broadcaster Video, the food security fee may hold a special appointment with the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration of Grain and Resources, and other ministers to explore and investigate the matter.
According to CCTV,” Improper enterprises and appropriate responsible persons may be severely punished under the rules and will not be tolerated.”
Following a number of scandals, especially the fatal cheese scandal in 2008, where infant formula was discovered to contain the commercial chemical melamine, Chinese food items have faced domestic and international investigation. Beijing has taken steps to address these concerns while some Foreign customers have turned to trusted international brands in order to improve food security controls and comfort importers.
The Beijing News referred to the cooking oil matter as an “open solution” in the travel industry, and CCTV described it as “tantamount to poisoning”.
Massive public outcry
On China’s heavily censored social media platforms, some people called for product remembers and increased market oversight. Some also appeared to link the circumstance to wider issues in the nation, where a downturn is causing social unrest and there are deep concerns about the lack of transparency for prominent and government-linked organizations.
Food safety is still a top priority in China despite new increases in living standards. Local media has reported lots of high-profile controversies, prompting stricter government legislation.
