(China, 26th) — The Xunhua County People’s Court in Haidong City, Qinghai Province, China, recently concluded a case involving the sale of toxic and harmful food products. A man was sentenced to eight months in prison for selling so-called “Malaysian coffee” containing illegal drug ingredients via the internet.
The man is also required to pay a fine, forfeit his illegal gains, assume punitive damages, and issue a public apology on provincial media, triggering public concern over food safety issues.
According to the court’s verdict, the defendant, Han Moumou, from October 2022 to April 2023, sold products labelled as “Malaysian coffee” via WeChat channels—a total of 225 boxes and 23 bags—amounting to 31,698 yuan RMB. Investigation found that these products did not provide any certificates of conformity or test reports, nor were they legally labeled in Chinese.
Upon sampling and testing by law enforcement, it was discovered that this coffee product was illegally adulterated with “tadalafil.” This ingredient is a pharmaceutical compound strictly prohibited by law from being added to ordinary foods. Long-term use or mixing with other medications may cause serious harm to human health.
The trial court noted that the defendant knowingly sold food containing toxic and harmful ingredients via online channels for profit, thereby violating criminal law and committing the crime of selling toxic and harmful food. This conduct infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of unspecified consumers, as well as undermined the public interest.
Ultimately, the court sentenced the defendant to eight months in prison, imposed a fine of 62,000 yuan RMB, confiscated illegal gains totaling 14,650.5 yuan RMB, ordered him to pay punitive damages of 31,698 yuan RMB, and required a public apology on provincial media. The second-instance court upheld the original verdict.
Judicial authorities noted that this case is the first in the region to initiate a criminal ancillary civil public interest lawsuit under the charge of “selling toxic and harmful food.” It demonstrates the judicial system’s rigorous approach of “parallel criminal accountability and civil public interest litigation” towards food safety violations, aiming to raise the cost of breaking the law and strengthen deterrence.
Authorities also reminded the public that in recent years, some merchants have been selling so-called “imported coffee,” “functional coffee” and similar products via online platforms. Consumers should remain vigilant when making purchases, and avoid buying food products of unclear origin or with ambiguous labels, to safeguard their own health.