CRI听力:China Regulators Promote "See-Through Kitchen" to Improve Food Safety

In the southern Chinese city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province, a number of restaurants are being required to transform their once secretive kitchens into "see-through" ones.

The refurbished kitchens will have glass windows and CCTV camera systems so both diners and regulators will have a clear idea as to what's going on in the kitchen.

Chen Jingtai is the director of the Food and Drug Administration in Zhanjiang.

"The whole process of food preparation and cooking in the kitchen is put under real-time monitoring through a closed-circuit TV system. What's happening within the kitchen appears on a big TV screen in the dining area of the restaurant and also on TV screens in our food regulators' office. This way, diners and food regulators can both supervise the food-making process."

For those preparing the food, the "see-through" kitchen is going to force them to improve hygiene.

"Before the installation of the system, frankly speaking, there was dirty water and chaos in the kitchen. Now we are under intense supervision by our customers and food safety regulators. So we have to pay more attention to food hygiene and food safety."

The concept of the "see-through" kitchen appears to be welcome among customers.

"I come to eat at this restaurant frequently because I can know exactly what happens in its kitchen through the transparent glass shielding the kitchen area and also the CCTV system."

The "see-through kitchen" campaign in the city of Zhanjiang is part of a nationwide drive to improve food safety across the country.

Zhang Jing is with the China Food and Drug Administration.

"We are planning to make the concept of a 'see-through kitchen' part of our licensing requirements for restaurants. What we want to achieve is consumers’ right to know as well as the improvement of food safety."

People in China have become increasingly concerned about food safety following a series of food-safety scandals across the country in recent years.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.