A Chinese pickled cabbage factory that sparked international outrage after footage emerged of workers smoking and spitting into processing vats has been slapped with a massive fine. Chinese authorities have signaled a "zero-tolerance" policy as they attempt to restore dwindling consumer confidence in the nation's massive food export industry.
Massive Fines and Operational Suspension
According to a report by the Beijing Daily on February 2, the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Xingcheng City, Liaoning Province, imposed a fine of 1 million yuan (approximately $154,000 USD / 210 million KRW) on the representative of the facility. The company itself was separately fined 50,000 yuan and ordered to immediately cease all production and business operations indefinitely.
The administrative action follows a thorough investigation into a facility located in Huludao, Liaoning Province. The authorities concluded that the company failed to establish or implement a basic food safety management system and neglected to appoint a qualified food safety supervisor. "The facility showed a total collapse of management across core procedures, including raw material inspection, production process control, and worker hygiene oversight," the bureau stated in its official ruling.
The Video That Shook the Region
The controversy erupted in October last year when a "behind-the-scenes" video recorded by a worker was leaked onto Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin. The footage depicted:
A male worker standing waist-deep inside a large pickling vat, tossing cabbages while smoking a cigarette.
The same worker casually spitting directly into the brine used to preserve the vegetables.
Other workers wearing dirty street clothes while handling raw produce without gloves or protective gear.
The clip went viral not only in China but also in South Korea, where a significant portion of restaurant-grade "Kimchi" and pickled side dishes are imported from Liaoning and Shandong provinces. For many Korean consumers, it evoked traumatic memories of the 2021 "Naked Kimchi" scandal, where a worker was filmed bathing in a pickling pool.
Deepening Trust Deficit in "Made in China" Food
While the Xingcheng factory primarily served domestic markets, the incident has cast a long shadow over China’s food exports. Industry analysts note that these recurring hygiene lapses are hurting China’s efforts to compete with high-quality "K-Food" brands.
In response to the recurring scandals, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has recently strengthened its "On-site Overseas Factory Inspection" program. Any Chinese facility exporting to Korea must now undergo rigorous digital audits and physical inspections.
"This fine is symbolic," said a Beijing-based trade analyst. "The Chinese government is under immense pressure to show that it is cleaning up its act, especially as neighboring countries implement stricter ESG and safety standards for imported food."
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