Recently, the manager of the “Burning Fire Pot · Instant Hot Pot” restaurant in Chengdu, Sichuan was caught urinating in the kitchen. Authorities have announced that the restaurant has been temporarily closed and is under investigation. The restaurant had been exposed for serving hot pot takeout with a rag in it.
Video footage shows an employee in a black shirt with rolled-up pants to the knees standing in a kitchen with hands in front of them, facing towards the kitchen drain. The person who recorded the video claimed it was at the “Burning Fire Pot · Instant Hot Pot” in Chenghua District. The restaurant manager was caught urinating in the kitchen.
According to a report on Beijing Radio and Television’s program “Rule of Law in Progress,” the individual who released the video stated that he was an employee at this restaurant and chose to expose the incident online due to a dispute with the store.
Staff from the Burning Fire Pot Food Management Co., Ltd. stated that they would report the incident to the company for investigation and verification. One staff member from the restaurant mentioned, “The manager is not here, he is off today.”
On January 17, the Chenghua District Market Supervision Administration in Chengdu, Sichuan issued a situation report stating that the hot pot restaurant mentioned in the circulating video was located at Burning Fire Pot · Instant Hot Pot (Niushikou Outlet) on Shuangfu First Road. After inquiries and verification, the employee in the video admitted to the behavior captured in the video. The restaurant has now been closed, and the local Market Supervision Bureau has initiated an investigation.
In response to this incident, netizens expressed astonishment and outrage, with some sharing their own experiences. One individual, Mr. Ning, and his six colleagues ordered takeout from the “Burning Fire Pot · Instant Hot Pot” (Yintai City Outlet) on December 28, 2022, spending 213 yuan. While eating, they found a large piece of rag in one of the hot pot takeout containers.
Mr. Ning stated that they ordered the butter pot, the meal was sealed, and upon arrival, they immediately opened the package. However, one of the soup containers had a different color and looked murky. Upon closer inspection, they discovered a huge piece of tripe. They thought it was a large piece of tripe, but upon closer examination by a colleague, they realized it was a rag soaked in hot pot oil, turning it a gray-brown color.
Mr. Ning described how the group was disgusted as if they had eaten a fly, feeling nauseous and unable to shake off the psychological discomfort despite rinsing their mouths and drinking water.
The person in charge of the takeout business at the restaurant, Mr. Liu, explained that an employee accidentally dropped a towel into the pot while cooking as the pot handle was hot. This resulted in the towel being cooked in the pot and served in the dish.
A notice was sent from the Burning Fire Pot management to Mr. Ning, stating that due to the serious operational incident on December 28, the Yintai City Outlet was ordered to cease operations immediately for rectification, and the employees involved were terminated.
According to Red Restaurant Network, the winter season is traditionally a peak period for the hot pot industry. However, this winter, many hot pot restaurants are experiencing a downturn in business.
After the pandemic, the Chinese economy has been sluggish, affecting the restaurant industry as well. Jiang Yi, a restaurant expert, mentioned that even in Chengdu, the heartland of hot pot, many hot pot restaurants have seen a significant decline in business since the winter started. Another seasoned observer of the restaurant industry, Wang Jie, pointed out that over the past two months, the revenue of many hot pot restaurants in Chengdu has dropped by 30% to 70% compared to the same period last year.
The founder of Da Long Yi Hot Pot, Liu Zhi, stated that the hot pot market has entered a period of deep adjustment in 2024, with a high probability of continued market reshuffling in 2025. “In recent years, the hot pot industry has experienced rapid growth, with a proliferation of hot pot restaurants. The choices for young people have increased, leading to market saturation and even oversaturation. The market is now readjusting towards balance, and a decrease in market stock is the trend.”