The Scandal of Unwashed Tanker Trucks: When Coal Oil Meets Soybean Oil

In July, The Beijing News, one of China’s most daring newspapers, released a shocking report that has sent ripples across the nation. The article revealed an alarming practice witnessed by their reporter: a tanker truck that had just delivered coal oil was immediately loaded with soybean oil. This incident, which occurred in late May in Yanjiao, Hebei Province, just a stone’s throw from Beijing, has raised serious concerns about food safety and industry practices.

Several truck drivers, interviewed for the report, disclosed a disturbing norm: before these tankers are used to transport edible oil, syrup, or other consumable liquids to wholesalers and businesses, they are typically not cleaned. Cleaning the tank, they explained, would take several hours and cost at least three to four hundred Chinese Yuan (~ 50 USD). Consequently, to save time and money, companies often skip this crucial step, potentially compromising the safety and purity of the food products being transported.

This revelation underscores a significant gap in regulatory oversight and the need for stricter enforcement of hygiene standards in the food transportation industry. As consumers, it is imperative to question and demand transparency about the safety protocols in place to ensure that the food reaching our tables is not tainted by such hazardous practices.