Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao has announced compensation for over 4,000 customers who dined at one of its Shanghai locations after a disturbing incident in which two diners urinated into a hotpot broth.
A video of the act, recorded in a private dining room, went viral late last month.
Haidilao stated that the incident occurred on February 24, but the company only became aware of it four days later and initially struggled to determine the time and location. The company acknowledged gaps in staff training that prevented early detection. On March 6, Haidilao confirmed the incident took place at a downtown Shanghai outlet.
In a statement, Haidilao expressed deep regret, emphasizing that no compensation could fully make up for the distress caused. However, the company pledged to take full responsibility. While it did not disclose the total compensation amount, Haidilao reported the case to police in Jianyang, Sichuan, and other jurisdictions. Shanghai police have since detained two 17-year-old suspects. Additionally, Haidilao has filed a civil lawsuit against them.
