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Local authorities in Xiamen, East China’s Fujian Province have launched a full investigation and shut down a disinfection company over serious safety violations, after it was found using highly toxic pesticides to sanitize popular restaurant chains.

In a statement released on Monday, the joint investigation team of Huli District, Xiamen, said authorities have received public complaints against the firm and launched an immediate probe. Inspectors collected on-site evidence, conducted sampling tests, and seized all remaining chemicals belonging to the company. The firm’s operation in Huli District has been shut down.

Authorities pledged to penalize the violations in strict accordance with the law. A citywide inspection of all local disinfection service providers is underway to ferret out irregularities, with zero tolerance for illegal practices in the industry.

The Beijing News reported that for a long time, the company used dichlorvos — a toxic agricultural pesticide — to provide routine disinfection for dozens of well-known chain restaurants, including Green Tea, Xianqi Banbudian, Chi Nai, Fengyuanjia and Yisushi.

To avoid regulatory inspections, the company workers secretly transferred pure dichlorvos liquid into unmarked mineral water bottles. The company was also found using unqualified, uncertified rat poison. Some employees admitted that they refused to dine at any restaurants they had disinfected. On-site tests by journalists confirmed positive dichlorvos residues on restaurant floors. 

He Xiongkui, a professor at China Agricultural University, told the Beijing News that dichlorvos is prohibited for use in catering venues due to its long residual time and severe health hazards. The chemical can cause serious damage to human soft tissues and may even be life-threatening in severe cases, he warned.