[Epoch Times, April 22, 2026, report by Epoch Times reporter Li Su] A restaurant in a mall in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, was exposed for having kitchen staff use their feet to wash dishes, with the involved store responding that it was a "temporary worker" on their first day on the job who operated improperly, with netizens directly saying that this should not be a scapegoat for shirking responsibility. According to a video circulating online, on April 18, a kitchen staff member wearing water shoes stepped into a plastic basin containing bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils, repeatedly using their feet to wash them, causing the utensils to move around. Some chopsticks fell to the ground and were then placed back in to continue washing. The footage quickly attracted public attention, with some netizens directly saying, "It seems washing dishes before eating in Guangzhou is necessary." The "Reporter Help" reporting platform verified through multiple channels that the involved store was "Lingnan Exquisite · Cantonese Tea House (Yongwang Store)" located inside Yongwang Dream City in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. The store manager responded on April 20, stating that the employee in question was a temporary worker and it was their first day on the job, and the store had shortcomings in staff training and management. The store began to close for rectification the night of the incident. On April 21, "Reporter Help" visited the site and found that the store had suspended operations, with barriers set up and a notice posted stating, "Closed for rectification starting today, will resume after inspection." Regarding the store's claim that the employee was a "temporary worker" on their "first day on the job," the public generally did not accept this explanation. Some comments pointed out that such excuses are common in similar incidents and should not be used as a scapegoat to avoid responsibility. The safety of customers' meals cannot tolerate even a bit of foot contamination. It is hoped that relevant departments, mall management, and restaurants can all do a better job of supervision, and restaurants should be more self-aware, otherwise it will damage their own reputation. Reviewing past news reports, "washing food or utensils with feet" is not an isolated incident. In 2017, a video of "washing vegetables with feet" was exposed in Lianjiang, Guangdong; in 2019, a school cafeteria in Zhuanghe, Liaoning, was accused of using feet to wash dishes; in 2025, a case of school cafeteria staff in Xinyu, Jiangxi, stepping on food was reported and confirmed. Analysis suggests that food safety is no small matter, with one end connected to the industry's bottom line and the other concerning public trust. Whether it is large chain restaurants, school cafeterias, or small street stalls, stricter standards should be upheld at every point to avoid similar incidents from recurring.