Shanghai police say two 17-year-olds were placed in "administrative detention" following the incident at a restaurant where diners simmer food at their own tables.

Haidilao has apologised to customers, saying it has replaced all hotpot equipment and dining utensils, as well as disinfecting other crockery and utensils. The incident happened late in February, though the company's management only found out about it days later,

Chinese hotpot giant Haidilao said it would compensate over 4,000 diners who had visited one of its outlets in Shanghai.