‘Disgusting': Chinese scholar's reproof of washing dishes at tables sparks online spat

South China Morning Post

31-05-2025

Social media users in southern China's Guangdong province have been outraged by comments from a scholar who criticised their long-standing practice of washing tableware with hot water at tables as 'disgusting'.
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In a video clip released on May 12 on a major social media platform, Wang Zhongqiu, an expert in enterprise management, stated that this common behaviour among Guangdong diners makes him uncomfortable, according to the Yangtze Evening News.
In many restaurants across the country, customers are served a set of sterilised tableware, including a bowl, a plate, and a cup, which are sealed with plastic film. This tableware is typically provided by professional dishwashing companies.
In a video, Wang Zhongqiu, a specialist in enterprise management, expresses that the common practice of washing dishes at the table among diners in Guangdong makes him feel uneasy. Photo: Douyin
'We believe that sterilised dishes should meet the authorities' standards, and customers should feel assured when using them,' Wang said in the video.
'However, the reality is quite different. I've visited many places in Guangdong. Before each meal, diners there wash their bowls and chopsticks with boiling water. They then place the plastic film and the used water into a large vessel,' he remarked.
'That scene is unsightly. It makes people feel disgusted,' Wang added.
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His remarks have sparked mixed reactions from internet users in mainland China, with many from Guangdong chastising him.
'I agree with this scholar. It is unnecessary to wash them again. Soaking the bowl in hot water for only a few seconds cannot eradicate germs,' commented one online observer.