Netizen Finds Cockroach Leg in Baobao Ice at Keelung Miaokou Night Market; Vendor Apologizes and Suspends Operations for Sanitization

Central News Agency Report

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, July 13) A customer purchasing baobao ice at Keelung's Miaokou Night Market discovered a cockroach leg at the bottom of their dessert. The vendor, Mr. Chen, apologized to customers in a media interview today and announced a two-day suspension of operations for thorough cleaning and disinfection. Health authorities dispatched inspectors to the site, identifying violations of food hygiene standards and requiring immediate rectification before the vendor can resume operations.

Yesterday, a netizen posted on the social media platform Threads, sharing that while eating baobao ice at Keelung's Miaokou Night Market, they expected a pleasant surprise in the last bite but instead found a cockroach leg. 'The extra topping was free, but I respectfully decline,' the user wrote, urging others to remain vigilant about food hygiene when visiting night markets and warning against consuming 'hidden ingredients.'

The user reported that when they showed the contaminated ice to the vendor, it was initially discarded without response. Believing the vendor would not address the issue, they loudly declared the presence of a cockroach leg, at which point other customers were still placing orders. The vendor then offered either a replacement serving or a refund. The customer replied, 'I wouldn't dare eat it even if you gave it to me,' prompting the vendor to issue a refund.

This morning, the female shop attendant opened the stall and repeatedly apologized to customers through media cameras, visibly emotional and in tears. She explained, 'I didn't ignore the customer. I simply set the ice aside temporarily. I didn't dispose of it immediately, nor did I destroy evidence. I'm truly sorry.'

Mr. Chen, the vendor, stated in an interview that due to the heavy crowd yesterday, he may have been too busy to immediately attend to the customer's concerns, causing discomfort, for which he deeply apologized. He added that subsequent checks of the same batch of ice showed no abnormalities, and his nephew had already posted an apology on social media. 'We were wrong, and we admit it,' he said, emphasizing future improvements in hygiene management and announcing a two-day closure for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection.

This morning, health inspectors visited the stall, measuring the temperature of ice products and freezers and checking the expiration dates of unopened corn cans. The health authority stated that violations of the 'Good Hygiene Practice for Food' guidelines—such as uncovered food in refrigerators and uncovered trash bins—were identified, and the vendor was required to rectify these issues immediately before resuming operations.

Although no cockroaches were observed at the scene, the health authority confirmed it will launch an administrative investigation into the reported cockroach leg. If violations are substantiated, the vendor could face fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million under the 'Food Safety and Sanitation Management Act.' (Edited by Li Hsi-chang) 1150713