In September 2011 police in China said they had broken up a national ring of illegal suppliers recycling dangerous “waste oil,” or “hogwash oil” (地沟油) — oil re-processed from waste animal parts, recycled from fryers, etcetera — and reselling it to restaurants and other customers for use in food production. The announcement was a disturbing confirmation of rumors long circulating in China. “Waste oil” is known to have serious health risks, and experts say some forms are cancer-causing. In this cartoon, posted by artist Fan Jianping (范建平) to his blog at QQ.com, a bottle of waste oil is poured over a fresh fish laid out on a dinner plate. The surface of the oil tells the story of its origins in the rat and roach-infested sewers..
David Bandurski
CMP Director
