The authorities in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, China, have reported that a vendor at a local farmers' market has been ordered to suspend operations and undergo rectification after washing frozen meat in a public restroom.
According to the Ya'an Integrated Media Center, the Market Supervision Administration of Yucheng District, Ya'an City, issued an incident notice on Saturday (April 18), stating that a resident had reported that, at 3:53 p.m. on Friday (April 17), a vendor at the Xingmao shop in Shitian Farmers' Market in the district was suspected of washing frozen meat in a public toilet.
Upon receiving the tip-off, the Market Supervision Administration of Yucheng District immediately organized law enforcement personnel to rush to the scene for investigation and handling.
According to the notice, after on-site verification and investigation visits by law enforcement officers, the reported situation was confirmed to be true. The actions of the vendor in question violated food safety laws and regulations and posed a potential food safety hazard. The Market Supervision Administration has now ordered the involved vendor to suspend operations for rectification, and has also removed and seized the involved meat products on site for inspection in accordance with the law.
According to the notice, after on-site verification and investigation visits by law enforcement officers, the reported situation was confirmed to be true. The actions of the vendor in question violated food safety laws and regulations and posed a potential food safety hazard. The Market Supervision Administration has now ordered the involved vendor to suspend operations for rectification, and has also removed and seized the involved meat products on site for inspection in accordance with the law.
At the same time, the Market Supervision Administration also interviewed the management of the farmers' market, issued a "Notice of Order to Rectify," and required them to draw deep lessons, improve their regular supervision mechanisms, strengthen food safety and hygiene training and publicity for vendors entering the market, strictly fulfill their primary responsibilities, and prevent similar incidents from occurring.
The notice stated that, in order to effectively safeguard the public's "safety on the tip of the tongue," the Market Supervision Administration will continue to strengthen food safety supervision. First, a special food safety rectification campaign will be carried out district-wide. Second, the management of each farmers' market will be urged to establish and improve long-term supervision mechanisms. Third, widespread publicity on food safety law will be carried out, enforcement efforts will be increased, and a safe, reassuring, and healthy consumer environment will be created.