Snack seller devoted to food safety

Liu Hong-an, a snack shop owner in north China's Hebei province has become famous in the country. It happened after he made a public pledge to use safe oil, and allow his shop to be inspected by anyone. CCTV reporter Ning Hong finds out what his plans were for Chinese New Year.

It's two days before the lunar new-year. 26 year old Liu Hong-an is falling behind schedule in delivering his last orders of the year.

Liu sells fried twisted dough sticks, a common breakfast snack in China. In 2012, he voluntarily introduced his own safety standards. As China's catering industry was being dragged into the gutter-oil scandal, his snack shop was gaining popularity. Liu became famous, and was praised, for shaming the entire catering industry.

Liu said, "It's beyond my wildest imagination that I could be as famous as I am now. I think it may be down to peoples' needs. People need healthy and safe food they can trust."

Liu has also added a famous saying by Confucius onto his shop banner. It's a rule he says he lives by.

"jisuobuyu wushiyuren" is a very common phrase known by many Chinese people. It means "don't do to others what you would not have them do to you." Liu's persistence to the code has won him much popularity and recognition more than he ever dreamt.

At the end of 2012, Liu was elected to the provincial people's congress, as a representative of private business owners. But he feels uneasy about his new position.

Liu said, "I love the peaceful life. This is not normal. People visit me with all kinds of plans and proposals. I feel I was like taking a skyrocket away from it all."

But his concern about his fast growing fame hasn't stopped his fast growing business. His second stall is set to open this spring.

Liu said, "My business philosophy is self discipline. When it comes to catering, if you don't want to eat it yourself, don't give it to others. Simple like that."

As a small vendor, Liu is blazing a trail, in setting new standards. He hopes others will now take up the challenge, to provide safer, healthier food for people on the move.