On social media, yet another unusual trend from the inquisitive world of culinary trends lit fire: people discussed an absurd and seemingly mythic ingredient, a Chinese “saliva oil,” claimed to have been used at several restaurants for frying food in various online circles. The fascinating aspect is also frightening for quite many netizens. Who doesn’t understand if that is a cultural mistranslation, but someone here starts arguing strongly about hygiene? This story has been storming social media with endless opinions and theories regarding its origin and purpose. Is it an exotic delicacy lost in translation or a recipe mishap turned into a viral sensation? Whatever the truth, one thing’s sure: this unusual tale is cooking up quite the buzz.
A Chinese hotpot restaurant caught using ‘ saliva oil’ in Sichuan.
A hotpot restaurant in Sichuan, China, has plunged into a boiling scandal after authorities uncovered its shocking use of “saliva oil.” The practice is shocking because the restaurant recycles leftover chilli oil soup from customers, blends it with fresh oil, and serves it to unsuspecting diners. The news broke after a vigilant diner tipped off local authorities, triggering a full-scale investigation.
On Thursday, the Nanchong Market Regulation Administration reported the seizure of 11.54 kilograms of recycled beef tallow, a cornerstone ingredient in Sichuan and Chongqing spicy hotpot. Investigators discovered oil extracted from previous customers’ plates, mixed with fresh oil, and repurposed for new patrons. The restaurant owner, Chen, shockingly revealed that the unsanitary practice had occurred since September. He defended his actions by saying it was a hopeless rescue effort to save the restaurant’s failing business, claiming that the oil added flavour to the soup.
— SCMPNews (@SCMPNews)
People have raised food safety concerns regarding the usage of ‘Saliva oil’ in Chinese restaurants.
Introduced in 2009, China’s Food Safety Law strictly prohibits food ingredients from reused leftover stuff; the country’s strictest rule on food safety emerged after alarming occurrences of vendors recycling “gutter oil” retrieved from restaurant rubbish. Under China’s Criminal Law, violations are punishable through heavy fines and up to five years.
Despite the legal implications, this discovery has sparked mixed reactions from social media users. While some were outraged, loyal patrons surprised everyone by coming to the restaurant’s defence, saying they already knew about this practice. Others even said, “Hotpot without used oil isn’t as tasty,” and cited this as one reason for visiting.
