China’s Waterborne Cooking Oil Tankers Also Shipping Chemicals, Fuel, Sources Say
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China’s waterborne vessels that transport cooking oil are also used to ship chemicals and diesel fuel, a Caixin investigation has found, after revelations that tanker trucks also engaged in the practice, sparking public uproar about food safety.
Several industry insiders told Caixin that it’s common for ships to transport both cooking oil and non-edible oils that could be toxic to humans. And while the vessels are cleaned between voyages, it may not be thorough enough, and cleanliness certificates provided by third-party service providers could be fake, the sources said.
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- China’s vessels used for transporting cooking oil also carry chemicals and diesel fuel, raising food safety concerns.
- The practice, partly driven by regulatory pressures and low demand, led to public uproar and government investigations.
- Authorities and e-commerce platforms have moved to tighten regulations and remove implicated brands, with tougher enforcement making it harder for shippers to continue unlawful practices.
- China Grain Reserves Group Co. Ltd.
- China Grain Reserves Group Co. Ltd., also known as Sinograin, is a state-owned food giant. The company was implicated in a scandal where tanker trucks were used to transport cooking oil after carrying coal-based oils without proper cleaning, leading to public uproar and prompting e-commerce platforms to remove their products from store shelves. This controversy has led to increased scrutiny and regulations on the transportation of edible oils in China.
- Hopefull Grain & Oil Group
- Hopefull Grain & Oil Group is a privately owned company implicated in the practice of using tanker trucks to ship cooking oil after they had transported coal-based oils without proper cleaning. The practice sparked public outcry, prompting e-commerce platforms to remove products from implicated brands and spurred central government agencies to investigate the transportation methods.
- Since 2021：
- Chinese authorities issued a policy that essentially limited the transportation of edible oil via inland waterways to specific vessels.
- Since early this month：
- Grain and oil companies have been checking their operations, and water transport authorities have tightened requirements for proof of cargo.
- Last week：
- Beijing News revealed that some companies had used tanker trucks to ship cooking oil after transporting coal-based oils without cleaning them first.
- Thursday：
- The captain of a ship that specializes in transporting edible oils told a prospective customer that the vessel sometimes carries chemical oils and diesel fuel.
- By Tuesday：
- Several central government agencies jointly launched an investigation into the transportation of cooking oil in China, according to a statement on the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation.
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