Hong Kong authorities prosecute grocery shop over video of rats on exposed meat

Hong Kong’s food hygiene authorities have prosecuted a popular butcher shop in Kwun Tong after a viral video and a subsequent inspection found rats running over pig carcasses, as well as cracked ceilings and stained floors.

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said staff were deployed to inspect a shop on Hip Wo Street after a clip circulated on social media showing rats roaming over the carcasses and feeding on the meat.

The outlet is a branch of Qiandama, a mainland Chinese supermarket chain. Its parent company, Qdama International Holding Limited, applied for a public listing in January this year.

The footage, filmed at night through the shop’s window while it was closed, shows rats moving over pig carcasses.

Viral video shows rats roaming over meat in Hong Kong shop

“During the inspection, floor stains, signs of rodent activity, and cracks on ceiling and walls were detected. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X),” the spokesman said.