According to the South China Morning Post, the woman and her husband were dining at the popular restaurant chain Xiabu Xiabu on Thursday when they made the shocking discovery. Video of the incident shows a lifeless rodent being picked out of the hotpot before being placed on a nearby plate.
After alerting restaurant staff to the find, the manager reportedly told the family that he was willing to compensate them some $700 for their troubles, the Shanghaiist reported. However, after being informed that a pregnant woman had eaten out of the hotpot, the official said he was willing to cough up nearly $3,000 to pay for an abortion if the customers were concerned about the child's health.
Although it's unclear whether any funds have been exchanged, the Shanghaiist reported Monday that the matter would be handled by officials at the restaurant's headquarters.
The Market Supervision Bureau of Kuiwen district in Weifang confirmed on Sunday that it had received complaints on the matter and launched an inquiry.
After conducting an immediate investigation, officials decided to shut down the establishment for a number of violations that included having pooled water in food processing areas and using food suppliers that didn't have full qualifications, the South China Morning Post reported.
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) September 8, 2018
Xiabu Xiabu, which has more than 700 locations in China, released a statement to the Post, saying that it has always "placed great emphasis on food security and would make any necessary improvements."
The status of the woman is unclear, presently.
