A viral video from China’s Shandong province has sparked widespread outrage after a street food vendor was caught using the same kitchen knife to shave his leg hair and trim his fingernails—before proceeding to prepare food for customers.

This stomach-turning footage was captured at a roadside stall in Weifang, where the vendor sells grilled meat pancakes. In the now widely circulated clip, he can be seen sitting during a break, nonchalantly scraping his leg hair with the blade, then using it to trim his nails, before turning back to cut food for patrons with the same knife.

The incident has triggered serious food hygiene and public health concerns among netizens, many of whom were appalled by the blatant disregard for cleanliness. Some even claimed they could “smell the filth through the screen.”

“Leg Hair Today, Veggie Chop Tomorrow” — Netizens React in Disgust

The footage was first posted online by a passer-by surnamed Bai, who said he witnessed the unhygienic act while walking past the vendor’s stall. Bai shared the clip on social media to warn others, stating he was “absolutely disgusted” by what he saw.

The video shows the vendor resting by the side of his cart, using his cooking knife to groom himself before casually resuming food preparation without even rinsing the blade. When a customer approached, he immediately used the same knife to slice ingredients on the cutting board.

Online users quickly slammed the behaviour as “vile” and “unacceptable,” with some calling for stricter enforcement of street food safety regulations. One comment quipped, “Street food should be grounded in culture, not foot fungus.”

Unregulated Food Handling Raises Larger Questions

While many were focused on the gross-out factor, others pointed out deeper issues regarding unlicensed food vendors and the lack of sanitation standards at informal eateries. Some netizens questioned how often this type of behaviour might occur undetected across other street stalls in China.

“Not every street vendor is like this, but how do we know which ones are safe?” one user asked. “There’s no food safety audit or proper oversight.”

The video, first reported by Chinese outlet Sohu Qianliyan, has since racked up tens of thousands of views and shares. Authorities in Weifang have yet to comment on whether action will be taken against the vendor.

Netizens Demand Action, Others Defend Street Food Culture

Calls are growing louder for local health departments to step up their monitoring of roadside stalls, especially those dealing with cooked meat or high-risk foods. “It only takes one unhygienic knife to cause a public health incident,” warned a user on Weibo.

However, some have come to the defence of street vendors, arguing that the clip represented an isolated case and should not tarnish the reputation of all hawkers. “Not every hawker is unhygienic,” one said, “but this one clearly crossed a line.”

This incident comes as more consumers across Asia become increasingly concerned about what happens behind the scenes at their favourite cheap eats stalls.

Hygiene Scandals Could Hurt Small Vendors’ Livelihoods

Although street food remains a beloved part of Chinese and Asian culinary culture, ongoing hygiene scandals could eventually harm the trade. Public trust, once lost, is hard to regain—especially in the era of viral videos and online shaming.

As consumers demand cleaner practices and greater transparency, vendors may soon have to adapt or face the consequences. For now, many are left asking: How clean is your next street meal—really?