Authorities intervene in Chinese restaurant’s 108 dumpling challenge

A Chinese restaurant that dared its customers to eat over 100 dumplings for a free meal has caught the attention of authorities, who are now investigating whether it has violated the country’s anti-food waste regulations.

Local authorities in Yibin city, Sichuan province, took action after learning about the restaurant’s 'King of Big Stomach Challenge,' as reported by the state-affiliated news outlet The Cover this week.

The challenge required participants to eat 108 chaoshous (spicy wonton dumplings) as quickly as possible to win a free meal and additional prizes.

To attract customers, the restaurant promoted the challenge on social media but found itself in hot water when the State Administration for Market Regulation announced an investigation into potential violations of food waste laws.

While eating competitions are quite common in Western countries and often bring fame to the winners – like Joey Chestnut, who triumphed last week at Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island by consuming 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes – they can be a sensitive issue in China.

Many people in China still remember the famine of the 1950s and 60s, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 45 million people.

According to The Cover, the unnamed restaurant is one of several under investigation by authorities for hosting similar eating competitions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously described food waste as 'shocking and distressing,' and in March of this year, he emphasized that agricultural supplies are crucial to national security.

The food waste law was introduced in 2021 after the government strongly criticized online influencers who live-streamed themselves binge-eating to attract viewers. Many of their accounts were later suspended by social media platforms.

Radio and television stations, as well as online video and audio providers, can face fines up to ten times the amount if they are found to be promoting, producing, or distributing programs or content that encourage excessive eating and drinking.

The restaurant in Yibin has been accused of encouraging binge eating and promoting excessive orders, according to the local market regulator, as reported by The Cover.

However, some Chinese internet users have voiced their concerns, accusing the authorities of overstepping their bounds.

“Is this really wasteful? Why not hold a competition for the biggest eater? Will the leftover food be donated to those in need?” one user wrote on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.

One user highlighted China's history of food safety scandals, including incidents involving tainted baby formula and the use of 'gutter oil' – recycled oil contaminated with food waste or even sewage.

'You didn’t regulate food safety, but you’re focusing on this?' the user remarked.