Illegal kitchens 'will return'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-16 09:33

Illegal and unclean kitchens specializing in fast food lunches for office workers will return to Chaoyang district, despite a crackdown by authorities, residents say.

Officials from the industrial and commercial department swooped on Fangcaodi community after the Beijing News reported a number of illegal kitchens were operating from residential properties without health certificates or sanitation permits.

Most kitchens quickly closed after the media report and just one workshop was found in operation when officials arrived on Wednesday.

The kitchen was closed and officials confiscated equipment from the workshop.

However, local residents told METRO that the kitchens would return to the community, which has limited restaurants or eateries for nearby office workers.

"They have been here for years and have a very good business, though without any operating license or health certificate," said a woman surnamed Xu from the Fangcaodi residents committee.

"The industrial and commercial bureau, and the health departments have come to inspect them many times. But when they leave, the kitchens come back again."

According to China Cuisine Association statistics, more than two million, or 30 percent of office workers in Beijing order fast food as lunch everyday, representing more than 16 million yuan ($2.3 million) in daily sales.

A spokeswoman from the Chaoyang district health supervision department said all food establishments should have the appropriate licenses.

"Restaurant staff should have a health certificate by the local center of disease control," she said.

"Restaurants should meet the strict requirements of the health department, such as personal hygiene, food preparation process, the two-spoon tasting method and so on."

A delivery man from one of the kitchens told METRO that many of the orders were placed by nearby office workers and they sold as many as 200 portions a day.

He said one portion cost 8 yuan, and that it usually included one meat dish, two vegetable dishes and one portion of rice.

Zhang Yuhai, 32, an IT worker at a software company, said the kitchens would return because there was a demand for their affordable food.

"There is a huge market for fast food lunches, and hygiene is worth considering, but we want to first solve the problem of food," he said.

"If the government can help open some restaurants around the office buildings, such illegal kitchens would not survive."

A woman surnamed Shen, who works at the Fulllink office building, said she spent between 15-20 yuan on lunch everyday.

"Most office buildings don't have canteens or dining facilities. So we have to hunt for food outside every day," she said.

"The food is somewhat expensive on my income but I don't have a choice because I don't have too much time prepare food at home."