If you’re in the camp that’s not overly concerned about Hong Kong’s “gutter oil” scandal because you think it can’t possibly be that bad, this stomach-churning video might just change your mind.
The Making of Gutter Oil by RFAVideo starts by a showing a “gutter oil foot soldier” scooping a vile looking fatty slop out of a street drain in Shenzhen. This is then shown to be combined with other animal fats before being delivered to restaurants and hotels which use it as cooking oil.
Perhaps the most alarming, or most understandable, part is that a man involved with the processing of gutter oil questions why people would eat it, and insists “it will kill you”.
The video, which was first released in May 2013 (why are we only hearing about this now?), claims that around a tenth of China’s restaurants use gutter oil, and that it is especially prevalent among street venders. And while illegal manufacturing plants are often discovered after the public complain about the “nauseating stench”, many people in China feel they simply have to accept it.
Meanwhile, in present-day Hong Kong, the Centre for Food and Safety (CFS) has confirmed that, according to Taiwanese authorities, products imported to Hong Kong by the Chang Guann company, including the suspect CG Fragrant Lard Oil, were produced by different production lines and therefore not contaminated. Are we convinced?
Earlier in the week, Maxim’s Cakes admitted that its pineapple buns (which are sold in branches all over Hong Kong and in some 7-Eleven and Starbucks outlets) had been made with the Chang Guann Fragrant Lard Oil. All products have been recalled and sent for testing.
The Taiwanese authorities have identified two more products manufactured by Wei Chian Food Corporation that used the substandard lard and were imported to Hong Kong. These are Wei Soa Boa Pork Floss and Wei Soa Bao Seaweed Pork Floss. A curry paste used at Taiwanese restaurant chain Bafang Yunji has also been recalled for testing.
Another 40 food samples, including mooncakes, almond slices and rice dumplings, have been classed as “satisfactory” according to the latest release by the Hong Kong CFS.
Finally, the CFS is providing information to the Taiwanese authorities on the local Globalway Corporation, which is suspected of exporting lard to the Chang Guann company from another local oil manufacturer in Hong Kong. Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration found that Chang Guann imported 87 tons of oil from Hong Kong this year alone…so it could have come from our end anyway?
Investigations are continuing. Just don’t eat anything cooked, ever again.
Photo: YouTube screengrab
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