Famous Chinese luosifen (snail noodle) brand “Choubao” is caught in a food safety scandal. Multiple consumers have complained on social media, claiming that they found suspected toenails, cigarette butts, and other disgusting foreign objects in the products.
One consumer wrote that while eating “Choubao” luosifen, they discovered a sizable piece of nail shell, suspected to be a toenail. After lodging a complaint with customer service, the manufacturer only offered a refund of 100 yuan (approximately RM 59) a week later, which the consumer could not accept as a solution.
Another consumer, Ms. Ding, told a reporter from “Jingshi Live” that when she ate a packet of “Choubao” luosifen on September 5, which she had received in March, she bit into something hard and tough. Her mouth was filled with a cigarette smell, and when she spat it out, it turned out to be a cigarette butt.
She immediately provided the manufacturer with the product details and evidence of the foreign object, but customer service was only willing to compensate 100 yuan. According to China’s Food Safety Law, Ms. Ding demanded the merchant pay ten times the purchase price in compensation, or 1,000 yuan if the amount was less than that, but so far no agreement has been reached.
“Choubao” customer service responded that all ingredients are produced in specialized factories, and the process undergoes strict quality inspection, and that the case would be forwarded to the factory for verification. However, according to public complaint platforms, there have already been multiple complaints this year regarding “Choubao” luosifen containing foreign objects, including hair and insects.
Reporters from “Tianjin Daily” contacted “Choubao's” parent company—Hangzhou Weinian Brand Management Co., Ltd. Staff stated that the information has been recorded and someone in charge would respond.
Hangzhou Weinian’s brand “Choubao” has risen quickly in recent years, with monthly sales on Douyin e-commerce platform surpassing 40 million yuan (about RM 23 million) in 2022, ranking among the top luosifen brands.
The company also gained widespread attention due to a business dispute with internet celebrity “Liziqi” (real name Li Jiajia). The two parties once operated the “Liziqi” brand together, but due to differences, ended up in court, finally reaching a settlement through court mediation in December 2022.
This food safety incident has once again sparked consumer concern over food regulation and corporate responsibility.