Haidilao Photo; VCG

Hotpot chain Haidilao on Thursday responded to online claims that a diaper had been thrown into a cooking pot, saying that the incident took place at one of its outlets in Xuzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, and had been handled in accordance with regulations, Jiemian News reported.

According to Haidilao's response to Jiemian News, the incident occurred on December 31, 2025, at the Haidilao outlet in Yunlong Wanda Plaza, Xuzhou. A two-year-old child at one dining table threw a diaper into the pot used by the table. The restaurant said it immediately discarded the affected cookware and reported the matter to the police. Local police subsequently handled the child's guardians who were present at the scene in accordance with the law.

The incident has attracted public attention partly because Haidilao had previously been embroiled in a separate controversy involving inappropriate behavior in one of its restaurants. According to earlier reports, a short video circulated online in March 2025, showing someone allegedly urinating into a hotpot at a Haidilao restaurant, drawing widespread attention. Two individuals involved, Tang (male, 17) and Wu (male, 17), were subsequently placed under administrative detention, according to The Paper.

In September 2025, the Huangpu District People's Court in Shanghai ruled that the two minors and their guardians should issue apologies in designated newspapers and compensate the restaurant company for economic losses totaling 2.2 million yuan (about $315,000), The Paper reported.

On Thursday, the People's Court Daily published an apology statement from Tang and his parents in connection with the earlier case. In the statement, Tang said he had come to a profound understanding of the seriousness of his actions.

"I have deeply realized the seriousness of my wrongful behavior and hereby extend my sincere apologies to Sichuan Xinpai Catering Management Group Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Laopai Catering Management Co., Ltd.," Tang said in the apology statement. "I have also received criticism and education from my parents, my school, the public security authorities, the court, and consumers online. I will draw profound lessons from this incident, correct my mistakes, and turn over a new leaf," according to The Paper.

Global Times