Two Teenagers Caught Urinating in Hotpot Broth at Shanghai Restaurant, Leading to Major Action from Chain
A restaurant in China has been compelled to compensate 4,000 customers after a shocking viral video surfaced, showing two teenagers urinating into the hotpot broth.
Most diners expect restaurants to uphold hygiene and food safety standards, but this incident at a Shanghai location of Haidilao—one of China’s largest hotpot chains—completely shattered that trust.
Thousands of unsuspecting customers were unknowingly affected before the disturbing footage came to light.
The incident occurred in a private dining room at the restaurant, and for weeks, no one had any idea it had happened.
The truth was only revealed when a video started circulating online, showing two 17-year-old boys standing on a table and urinating into the hotpot broth.
The video sparked widespread outrage, prompting the restaurant to take immediate and significant actions to address the situation.
The restaurant was part of the Haidilao chainJADE GAO / Contributor / Getty
Haidilao, renowned for its high standards and excellent customer service, acted swiftly after facing public backlash.
The company announced that 4,000 customers who had dined at the restaurant between February 24 and March 8 would receive full refunds.
Beyond the reimbursement, the restaurant pledged to compensate each affected diner with an amount equal to ten times the cost of their meal.
The teens filmed themselves peeing in the hotpotX/@shanghaidaily
The restaurant issued an official statement addressing the incident and extending an apology to its customers.
They confirmed that all affected hotpots, utensils, and ingredients had been replaced as a precautionary measure.
Haidilao stated: “In the early hours of February 24, two men urinated into a hotpot after dining in a private room at a Haidilao branch on the Bund in Shanghai.”
They added: “As management had not established contingency plans or provided training for such an incident, our staff were unable to detect any abnormalities or ensure the safety of the dining environment.”
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, the restaurant further declared: “We fully understand that the distress caused by this incident cannot be compensated in full, but we will do everything in our power to take responsibility.”
In addition to offering customer refunds, the company also committed to enhancing staff training and implementing stricter monitoring measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Shanghai police announced on Saturday that two teenagers had been detained for allegedly urinating into a hotpot at a Haidilao outlet, one of China’s well-known hotpot chains.
In the viral video, one of the boys can be heard laughing, while also mentioning that Haidilao had launched..
Police later confirmed that the two teenagers were intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Both individuals have been arrested and are facing legal consequences for their actions.
However, the police report did not clarify whether the restaurant staff had properly sanitized the hotpot equipment after the incident took place.
The teens were arrestedZhang Peng / Contributor / Getty
If proper sanitation measures weren’t followed, this could have presented significant health risks to diners.
Urine contains waste products filtered by the kidneys, and while it is typically sterile when initially excreted, it can rapidly become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Although some cultures have historically used urine for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, modern science does not endorse its consumption as either safe or beneficial.
Health experts caution that drinking urine can lead to dehydration due to its high sodium content, which causes the body to lose more water.
