The situation: A foreigner eats at a Chinese restaurant and suffers severe food poisoning requiring hospitalisation.
Applicable law: Food Safety Law (amended 2021): requires restaurants to comply with public health standards and clearly disclose main ingredients. Article 148: if an unsafe food product is involved, the consumer may claim compensation for actual harm plus a penalty of ten times the price of the product.
Typical outcome: Keeping receipts, photographs and medical reports, filing a complaint with the Market Supervision Administration (which conducts a health inspection of the restaurant), with the possibility of civil prosecution.
📜 Civil Code (general rules) · Awareness case
Food Safety — If You Are Harmed by Spoilt or Contaminated Food · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 食品安全法 / Food Safety Law 2021
You ate at a Chinese restaurant and suffered food poisoning or an allergic reaction due to an undisclosed ingredient. What legal remedy is available?
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: After any food poisoning incident, keep a sample of the food if possible and ask for a bill showing the restaurant's full address. The medical report is the primary pillar of evidence.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026