China has imposed fines totaling approximately 11 million yuan ($1.54 million) on state stockpiler Sinograin and six other firms for using fuel tankers to transport cooking oil, raising concerns over food safety regulations. This scandal, reported by The Beijing News, involved the transportation of soybean oil, cooking oil, and syrup without properly cleaning the tankers in between uses, reigniting fears of food contamination.
An official investigation conducted in Hebei, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi revealed the severe extent of the issue. The State Council Food Safety Office stated that the use of unclean tankers “violated basic common sense and trampled on moral and legal standards.”
Sinograin Oil (Tianjin) Co. Ltd received a fine of 2.86 million yuan ($401,555.68), while the remaining fines amounted to 8.18 million yuan for the other logistics and edible oil companies involved. Additionally, criminal charges were filed against two drivers connected to the scandal.
China continues to face challenges in restoring public trust in its food safety standards, following a series of previous food safety incidents. The latest scandal has prompted consumers to shift towards foreign cooking oil brands, even at higher prices, highlighting growing concerns over domestic food safety.