TAICHUNG — December 1, 2025 — Three customers were sent to the hospital yesterday after drinking hot tea from a well-known chain tea shop in Taichung, which accidentally used a thermos still soaking in industrial citric acid for brewing. All three suffered mild throat burns but were treated and later discharged. The Taichung City Food Safety Department has launched an investigation into the incident.
Incident Linked to New Employee Error
According to the company, the mishap occurred at one of its charity stores, which offers a hot tea re-brewing service. Customers often hand over their teaware for staff to re-brew tea. In this case, a newly hired employee did not check whether a thermos was still in the cleaning solution and used it to prepare hot tea. After drinking, customers described the tea as “extremely sour and undrinkable,” prompting three of them to seek immediate medical care.
The store confirmed that industrial citric acid was being used to clean thermoses. While the substance is not illegal for cleaning purposes under current regulations, authorities expressed concern over the use of non-food-grade materials in beverage preparation areas.
Prompt Response and Customer Care
The tea shop stated that the district supervisor and store manager accompanied the affected customers to the emergency room of China Medical University Hospital. Customers also returned for follow-up appointments the next day, with staff supervision. Doctors confirmed that all three individuals had stable conditions.
The company pledged to cover all medical expenses and continue monitoring the customers’ health.
Preventive Measures Implemented
The business explained that thermoses undergoing cleaning are normally marked with a “Cleaning in Progress” sign. The incident occurred due to the new employee’s unfamiliarity with procedures. In response, the company has strengthened staff training across all branches in Taiwan. The affected store will remain closed today and tomorrow to improve internal processes.
The company emphasized that it is committed to preventing similar incidents in the future and maintaining high standards of food safety and customer care.