An investigation by the Beijing News has uncovered that some tankers transporting edible liquids like syrups and vegetable oils have also been used in carrying chemical liquids. In order to save costs, sometimes the tanks are not being properly cleaned between transporting different cargoes, and some edible oil manufacturers do not strictly control and do not check whether the tanks are clean according to regulations, risking cross-contamination of the edible oils by residual chemical liquids.

Further investigations revealed that both road tankers and waterborne vessels used to transport edible oils were also being used to transport chemicals and fuel, potentially compromising food safety standards.

Subsequently, the social media account of a key journalist involved in the initial exposé disappeared, raising questions about press freedom and information access in food safety reporting. Simultaneously, a logistics platform removed its vehicle tracking function, further limiting public oversight of industry practices.