The Beijing News reported Wednesday that a Beijing factory recycled used chopsticks and sold up to 100,000 pairs a day without any form of disinfection, adding that officials raided the factory and seized about half a million pairs of recycled disposable bamboo chopsticks and a packaging machine.

The owner, identified only by his surname Wu, was cited as saying he had sold the recycled chopsticks for 0.04 yuan a pair and made an average of about 1,000 yuan ($130) a day.

Wu, who had no license to sell the goods, said he had sold 100,000 pairs a day when business was good.