Qingquan Ge bun shop suspended over kitchen hygiene scandal

Qingquan Ge, a well-known century-old bun shop and popular social media destination in Changsha, China, has been ordered to suspend operations following a food safety scandal. A viral video surfaced showing an employee using a kitchen workstation to trim their toenails.

The shop issued a public apology on September 30, admitting to management failures and stating that the behavior “seriously touched the bottom line of food safety.” The establishment has announced a temporary closure to conduct deep cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces, including countertops, utensils, and floors.

Local authorities from the Kaifu District Market Supervision and Administration Office have intervened, ordering the shop to cease operations for rectification. Regulators are currently investigating the incident and will issue penalties according to relevant laws. The scandal has drawn significant criticism online, particularly as a previous video from the shop featured a slogan reading “All employees must always remember food safety first.”