Rat in soup wipes $190m off Chinese restaurant chain’s value
Shares in Xiabu Xiabu plunged by 12% after reports of the animal emerged
A restaurant chain in China lost $190m (£145m) in market value after images of a pregnant woman finding a dead rat in her meal were uploaded on the internet.
Restaurant Xiabu Xiabu’s stock “hit its lowest level in almost a year, after photos of the dead rat being fished out of the broth with a pair of chopsticks quickly spread online”, says the BBC.
In all, the discovery of the rat “had knocked about $190 million off the market value of the business, which is publicly traded in Hong Kong”, reports The New York Times.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Xiabu Xiabu specialises in hot pot, “traditionally a large family meal where various meats, vegetables and other ingredients are cooked at the table by diners in a giant pot of bubbling soup and consumed immediately”, says The Daily Telegraph.
According to the Asia One news website, the woman who found the dead rat in her hot pot had already taken a few mouthfuls.
Local news site Kankan News quoted her husband as saying restaurant staff had told him: “If you are worried about the baby, then we'll give you 20,000 yuan (£2,236) to abort it.”
Xiabu Xiabu said in a statement on 8 September that it had “always placed great emphasis on food security and would make any necessary improvements”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
After the incident the local market supervision bureau dispatched personnel to check the restaurant. No traces of rats were found, though the branch was ordered to suspend services.
But authorities said that the restaurant had committed other violations relating to stagnant water and purchasing food from unlicensed suppliers.
Kankan News said Xiabu Xiabu also reportedly offered the pregnant woman 5,000 yuan (£559) as compensation.
But according to Kankan News, the husband declined the offer, as he wanted his wife and unborn baby to undergo a full medical check-up before deciding on a compensation amount.
-
The UK-made Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine is using in RussiaThe Explainer Ukraine reportedly deployed the long-range British missiles this week, following a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump
-
Dry skin, begone! 8 products to keep your skin supple while travelingThe Week Recommends Say goodbye to dry and hello to hydration
-
Sudoku medium: October 23, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago