The Chinese government has launched a high-level investigation following allegations that fuel trucks were being used to transport cooking oil without proper cleaning. The food safety office announced the interdepartmental investigation on Tuesday, July 9, pledging that those found guilty of malpractice “will be severely punished in accordance with the law.”
Companies implicated and responses
The scandal involves Sinograin, China’s largest grain storage and transport company, as well as the private conglomerate Hopefull Grain and Oil Group, according to a report by Beijing News last week. Both companies have denied their involvement.
“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 on its official Weibo account.
Hopefull Grain and Oil Group responded by stating that “relevant departments” were investigating and would make an announcement soon. The company asserted that one of the trucks mentioned in the media report was not owned by them and that there were no quality issues with their oil products.
Potential health risks
In China, trucks are not restricted to carrying specific types of goods. This means they can theoretically transport food products immediately after carrying coal-based oils. Failure to clean the trucks properly exposes millions to toxic chemicals, posing potentially fatal health risks.
Public reaction and historical context
The Chinese public has been alarmed since the news broke, with netizens expressing their outrage on social media.
“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 posted on Weibo.
“This is much worse than the Sanlu scandal; it can’t be settled with just [a] statement,” another user commented, referring to the 2008 milk scandal in which nearly 300,000 children fell ill and six died after consuming powdered milk contaminated with high levels of the industrial chemical melamine.
Government response
The Chinese government has acknowledged the public’s concerns and promised to punish any companies and individuals involved in the wrongdoing. Additionally, both Hebei and Tianjin provincial governments have launched their own investigations into the matter.