On December 29, 2024, in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, the owner of a braised meat restaurant was fined 60,190 yuan for adding poppy husks to the braising ingredients. This news became a hot topic on Baidu on December 29.
According to the report by Fengmian News on December 27, a person named Pu added poppy husks, which are prohibited as food substances, to the braising liquid while operating a restaurant in Shituan Town, Lezhi County. The poppy husks were used in braising pork heads, duck meat, beef, and other braised food products sold in the restaurant, with a total sales revenue of 60,190 yuan.
On June 7, 2022, the braising liquid made by Pu was found to contain the toxic substances morphine and codeine during an official inspection. In August of the same year, Pu was investigated for producing and selling toxic food products.
On January 18, 2024, Pu was sued by the Ziyang City Prosecutor’s Office for public interest litigation. On February 29 of the same year, the Ziyang City Intermediate People’s Court mediated the case, and Pu was ordered to pay a public interest compensation of 60,190 yuan.
In response, a legal professional from China, “Muzi Study Law,” stated on December 28 that according to Article 144 of the Criminal Law, selling toxic and harmful food products constitutes a criminal offense. By adding poppy husks containing toxic substances such as morphine and codeine to braised meat, Pu not only violated food safety regulations but also seriously endangered consumers’ health, thus committing a criminal offense.
Given that China’s food safety has been repeatedly exposed for containing harmful additives affecting health, this news has sparked discussions among many netizens.
Some netizens expressed outrage, stating that such behavior is despicable. They believe that for the sake of making unethical profits, disregarding consumer health, offenders should be severely punished.
Others believe that food safety is of paramount importance, and businesses engaging in such practices should be permanently eliminated from the market to understand the consequences of breaking the law.
A netizen named “Fu Zhi Instrument Nest” commented, “Businesses dare to add poppy husks, addictive substances harm both others and themselves. Illegal additives are against the law, and food safety violations should be strictly punished!”
Another netizen, “Tangli Shanren,” questioned the mediation by the Ziyang City Intermediate People’s Court, asking, “Can criminal offenses be mediated?”