CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- There are new standards for Chongqing Xiaomian (noodles) and Chongqing hot pots! On October 12, Chongqing Bureau of Market Supervision issued a total of 30 Chongqing local standards, including standards No.75 and No. 76. Among these standards, Operation and Service Specifications of Chongqing Noodles, and Technical Procedure for Red Oil of Chongqing Hot Pots offer insight into the cooking of savory Chongqing noodles and Chongqing hot pots.

The annual output value of Chongqing Xiaomian reaches over 40 billion yuan

Chongqing Xiaomian, which reflect the inheritance of the cooking techniques of “Chongqing cuisine” and the spread of Chongqing catering culture, and stands for Chongqing cuisine, not only satisfy the taste buds of Chongqing people but are also popular among people all over the country.

Currently, there have been more than 300,000 Chongqing Xiaomian stores across the country, 84,000 of which are located in Chongqing, selling 12.8 million bowls on a daily basis, offering employment to 500,000 people and yielding annual output value of over 40 billion yuan. The selling of Chongqing Xiaomian worth 100 million can generate sales of 400 tons of pepper, 50 tons of Chinese prickly ash, 1800 tons of rapeseed oil and 50 tons of pickle. Chongqing Xiaomian has a 70% national market share, and there are more than 300 noodles processing enterprises nationwide, with an annual output value of 100 billion yuan.

Chongqing Xiaomian are no longer limited to vegetarian noodles

The business scale of Chongqing Xiaomian used to be small, with various sizes of stores and service quality.

To solve these problems and promote the high-quality development of the Chongqing noodles industry, Operation and Service Specifications of Chongqing Noodles (hereinafter referred to as “Specification”) was launched and came into force.

The Specification was formulated based on 6 aspects: range, normative references, terms and definitions, basic requirements, operation requirements, and service requirements, according to Zhang Yuyi, the Deputy Director of the Service Industry Division of Chongqing Commerce Commission.

The redefinition of Chongqing noodles is no longer vegetarian noodles; instead, Chongqing noodles refers to Chongqing noodles served with toppings (refers to seasoning and embellishment that are poured on the noodles, such as peas, fried sauce, beef, braised intestines, shredded meat with pickled vegetables, etc.).

The Specification also proposes the Chongqing noodles stores should be fully licensed, and relevant departments should proceed with annual verification as required and standardize the qualifications, requirements of locations, infrastructure, and personnel, etc.

In addition, the Specification also makes specific requirements on 10 aspects, including license publicity, management system, business environment, raw material procurement, cooking and processing, general provisions on food safety, food safety traceability, waste disposal, equipment and facilities, and signs.

For example, Chongqing Xiaomian stores are not allowed to purchase oil, soy sauce, or ginger in bulk; when making food, raw and cooked food should be separated, and ginger, onion, garlic and other seasonings should be prepared separately and used immediately; when purchasing raw materials, ingredients and food-related products, business licenses, quality certificates and other qualification certificates of the suppliers should be carefully checked; it is required that the inspection records should be kept for no less than 6 months after the expiration of the shelf life of the product, and if no quality guarantee period is specified, the inspection records should be kept for no less than 1 year. Chongqing Xiaomian stores are also advised to build a traceability system deploying modern information technology, sort out recycling garbage cans, and set corresponding labels. Garbage cans (with less than 4/5 of spaces taken up by garbage) should be emptied on time and placed in designated areas.

It is said that the Chongqing Xiaomian association has also prepared star-rating standards for Chongqing Xiaomian stores and will provide training for the operators of Chongqing Xiaomian stores. (Translated by Cai Xinyu, Fathom Language Limited)