Hunan late-night eatery caught adding poppy to food
On.cc · 1 SOURCES1 day ago4 MIN
Summary
A late-night eatery owner in Xinhua County, Loudi, Hunan, has been exposed for adding poppy-derived substances to braised foods and barbecue seasonings to improve flavour and retain customers. The county political and legal affairs commission said on Friday, September 18, that the practice lasted for more than a month, generated about 2,500 yuan in sales, and later led to a court order for 25,000 yuan in compensation
Key Points
- The Xinhua County Political and Legal Affairs Commission in Loudi, Hunan, disclosed the case on Friday, September 18
- Eatery owner Zhang Qiang (張強, alias) admitted adding poppy from July last year to make braised dishes and barbecue
- Diner Li Ming (李明, alias), who had a prior drug record, ate there early on August 28 last year with relatives and friends
- During a routine anti-drug test afterward, Li and his companions tested positive for morphine, prompting suspicions and a police report
- Police seized food ingredients, braising stock and barbecue seasoning powder; testing found morphine and poppy alkaloids, both banned additives
Why It Matters
The case shows how illegal food additives can trigger criminal liability as well as civil public-interest claims when harm may extend beyond identified victims. For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that a positive drug test may not always stem from intentional drug use, and contaminated food can become a public-safety issue