Society

Hot pot restaurants required to disclose info

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-17 08:24

Customers have right to know what they are eating, says govt

CHONGQING - Restaurants in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality must disclose detailed information about the additives they use in their hot pot soups as part of a move by the government to crack down on the use of illegal ingredients.

Although many restaurants say their hot pot recipes are "commercial secrets", a circular says they are now required to disclose to customers by the end of the month information concerning the amount and types of additives used, said Ma Lin, deputy chief of the city's food and drug administration.

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The circular was issued after the central government initiated a crackdown on the illegal use of food additives last month. The crackdown includes new regulations that have intensified supervision and increased penalties for violators.

Chongqing is known throughout China for its unique popular style of hot pot. Statistics show that more than 10,000 hot pot restaurants in Chongqing have branches in other Chinese cities and overseas.

Hot pot consists of a simmering metal pot of soup placed at the customer's table in which diners cooks meat and vegetables to their liking. Additives to give the hot pot a more appealing appearance, flavor and smell are often included in the soup.

Ma said customers will have a "clearer view" of the additives being used in their dishes thanks to the new regulations. Restaurants using illegal additives such as formalin will face penalties, Ma added.

Other provinces have also created new measures to crack down on the illegal use of additives.

In East China's Jiangsu province, restaurant owners who wish to buy additives must register their purchases under their real names.

In Northwest China's Shaanxi province, the provincial government has urged the public to help the government locate and identify restaurants that have been using illegal additives.

Xinhua