Last week we wrote about concerns over harmful chemicals allegedly used in many hotpot restaurants around China, including claims that “Eighty percent of hotpots served at (restaurants) contain such chemical additives.” This week the China Hotpot Commission convened a convention to refute the negative press and offer assurances about the safety of eating hotpot.

Today the Global Times reported that the commission questioned the statistics in the reports that have been circulating. The office director of the Commission asks, “How can anyone know the number of hotpot restaurants in any given area and how do they get these statistics?”

Also at the convention were several large hot pot restaurant chains, such as Haidilao, Little Fat Sheep and Donglaishun, who all “confirmed a promise never to use chemical additives in their hotpot.”

Following this pledge by the large restaurants a spokeswoman for the Chinese Cuisine Association stated that “It is impossible for the industry and commerce departments to supervise small restaurants thoroughly.”

The comment highlights what should always be a rule of thumb in China – be cautious when eating in small, neighborhood restaurants. Many of these establishments are great, but if the food is extremely cheap, or the general surrounds unsanitary, it’s unlikely the restaurant is being overly careful with their ingredients or preparation.

Not present at the convention, nor heard from later for comments, was the Beijing Municipal Administration of Industry and Commerce, the department responsible for enforcing food safety in Beijing restaurants.