No inkling it was squid? Hong Kong restaurant owner in hot water over ‘abalone’ breakfast without key ingredient
- Director of cha chaan teng in Tai Po accused of supplying food with false trade descriptions after customs mounts test-buy operation
- Investigation finds ingredient used in abalone breakfast dishes was actually squid
The owner of a restaurant in Hong Kong was arrested on Tuesday after an undercover customs operation found it had actually used squid for its “abalone” breakfast on the menu.
The 47-year-old woman, who runs the cha chaan teng in Tai Po, was accused of supplying food with false trade descriptions, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a HK$500,000 fine, according to the Customs and Excise Department.
Authorities mounted a test-buy operation after receiving information alleging that the restaurant was suspected of serving fake abalone meals. A customs officer, posing as a customer, had bought two sets of breakfast – “abalone and ham macaroni” and “abalone and ham omelette”.
Samples of the dishes were then sent to a government laboratory.
“[Upon examination it was] confirmed the ingredient that was claimed to be abalone in the two dishes was actually squid, different from what had been declared,” the department said.
A law enforcement source said the abalone breakfast meals cost less than HK$40 each and diners might have already known the dishes did not contain the prized item.
