Watchdog exposes law-breaking eateries

Xibei Restaurant, FamilyMart, Blue Frog, GeLaoGuan and Freshippo were on the Shanghai market watchdogs' latest exposure list for food irregularities.

The Tacheng Road outlet of Xibei Restaurant, a traditional northwestern cuisine restaurant, was fined 50,000 yuan (US$7,069) by the Jiading District Administration for Market Regulation for violating China's food safety law.

A vegetable salad served at the restaurant in Jiading District failed tests for excessive bacterial colonies, and the restaurant was ordered to fix the problem immediately, according to the administration.

The Jinzhu Road outlet of FamilyMart was fined 50,000 yuan by the Changning District Administration for Market Regulation for selling food with excessive bacteria.

One batch of bento boxes featuring shredded pork with green pepper, and mapo doufu (tofu in chilli bean sauce with minced pork) failed for excessive amounts of Escherichia coli, while another batch of pork chop bentos failed for excessive Bacillus cereus.

The bentos were made by Shanghai Dingzhen Food Co Ltd, part of Taiwan-based food giant Ting Hsin International Group, which has also been punished.

Escherichia coli can lead to gastrointestinal infection and urinary tract infection under certain conditions. Bacillus cereus may cause food poisoning with symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

Shanghai GeLaoGuan, a popular Sichuan-style franchise famous for its bullfrog and fish head hotpot, was given a warning by the Minhang District watchdog for violating China's food safety law.

One of its employees doing food-related work did not obtain a health certificate, which was against the law, Minhang District market regulators said.

The Zunyi Road outlet of Blue Frog restaurant was warned by Changning District regulators for charging a 150 yuan corkage fee in June from a diner without the diner's consent, which is against Shanghai's consumer rights protection regulations, according to authorities.

The charge has been returned to the diner, regulators said.

The Minhang District No.3 outlet of Freshippo was fined 60,000 yuan after crabs it sold were found to contain excessive cadmium. Long-term intake of cadmium can lead to kidney and bone damage.

The substandard crabs were taken off shelves and a recall was made, according to the Minhang District Administration for Market Regulation.