Inspect online eateries' kitchens

Food safety administration departments at all levels must check the hygienic conditions of take-out restaurants selling food online, because diners cannot check out the kitchens, says an article on xinhuanet.com. Excerpts:

Some people have complained that the kitchens of some take-out restaurants operating online are dirty and messy, accusing a few of them of even using expired food products and ingredients. Besides, some websites that host take-out restaurants have admitted that they have not verified the claims and eligibility of the eateries doing business.

The Internet and smartphones have made life convenient for many people. But, at the same time, they have imposed higher requirements on business administrators and supervisors.

If the officials cannot upgrade their monitoring and supervisory systems accordingly, some businesspeople will use the loopholes in the regulations to indulge in illegal practices in order to maximize their profits. Many consumers have become victims of the online business model, which also serves as cover for many underhand dealings.

It is thus important that lawmakers revise the Food Safety Law to strengthen supervision over the online food industry. Plus, the penalties for online restaurant owners and website operators that violate the law should not be lighter than those meted out to normal restaurants owners.

Reputation and faith are the foundation of e-commerce. Therefore, people doing business online, especially those running restaurants, should honor consumers' trust with corresponding goodwill and transparency, because people's trust is more valuable than profits in the long-term success of a business.