Nandu chases the traces of "fresh lights" again, and the "artifact" of changing the color of the lights appears on the Internet

1. August 11, 2023 A09 version of the Nandu research page.

2. An online shopping platform claims to meet regulatory requirements for tinted "fresh lights".

3. Contrast between the colours of pork, vegetables and fruits illuminated by natural light (left) and "fresh light" (right).

Since December 1 last year, the State Administration for Market Regulation's newly revised "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of the Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products Market" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures") has been officially implemented, which stipulates that the sale of fresh edible agricultural products shall not use lighting and other facilities that cause obvious changes in the true color and luster of edible agricultural products and other sensory characteristics to mislead consumers about the sensory perception of goods. The implementation of this regulation means that "fresh lights" will be included in the prohibited category.

"Nandu Research" previously reported that the "fresh lamp" that has existed for decades has been criticized by consumers for a long time, and many stalls are still in use. Especially in fresh meat and meat product stalls, "fresh lights" are often called "beauty filters", which "cover the ugliness" of spoiled meat and water-injected meat, and mislead consumers' sensory judgment. At present, after the end of the policy transition period, what is the situation of the withdrawal of lights in the fresh market?

Ongoing visits:

There are still stalls using "fresh lights"

On the morning of December 1, 2023, the reporter came to Shuangsha Comprehensive Market in Huangpu District. Just after the morning rush hour, the traffic at the comprehensive market gradually dissipated, but many citizens still stopped to buy vegetables in front of the vendors. The reporter noticed that the stalls in each area were lit up with uniform strip fluorescent lights. However, unlike vegetables and aquatic products, the rows of fresh meat stalls are almost all hung with red-topped lights, all of which are composed of several LED lamp beads, and the meat on the board is bright red under the illumination of the light. The reporter counted carefully, a total of nearly 10 fresh meat stalls have not yet replaced the "fresh lights".

On the afternoon of the 1st, a reporter from Nandu came to the Shipai Meat and Vegetable Market in Tianhe District. As soon as you enter the market, you can see the bright white lights in the vegetable section, and most of the meat stalls still use "fresh lights" with strong colors such as purple and red.

At a meat stall, the reporter found that there were both red and purple lights, and the light of some of the purple lights hit the smooth floor, which was particularly dazzling. When asked why he used two different colors of lights and whether he understood the requirements of the market to standardize lighting equipment in recent days, the boss said frankly: "It's out of stock, and I don't have to sell it, so I can only take the original lamp first." ”

Some stall owners also said that they have received information that they want to replace the lights, but because the market management has not made a unified standard for the color code characteristics and color rendering coefficient of the lights, they are still in the process of purchasing online, and it may take a few days to complete the replacement.

The reporter found that one or two meat stalls have all been replaced with white lights. The above-mentioned stall owner said that the market has asked them to replace all of them in the past few days, but did not say when the specific punishment will be implemented. When the white light is used, the customer will feel that the meat is not fresh enough, "When the white light is used, the meat looks as if it has lost its vitality and has no freshness." ”

Online Survey:

Purchase stock induction, lamps can be cut multi-colored

Online, the reporter took "market fresh lights" as the keyword, searched on the e-commerce platform and found that the top stores were marked with "new national standard full-spectrum new LED fresh lights", with prices ranging from more than 20 yuan to more than 300 yuan, and attached color rendering index, relevant color temperature, etc. on the detail page, and marked with words such as "in line with the new regulations of market supervision" and "in line with the lighting requirements of the State Administration of Market Regulation".

But after pulling down, you can still see the products marked as "fresh lights" and "warm light tubes", and the main product advertising slogans are "professional freshness", "fresh attracting lights", "suitable for pork stalls and cold fresh meat, adjust at will to enhance the freshness of fresh meat" and so on. In addition, some "fresh lights" have become more functional and "hidden", evolving from the original monochrome lamps to "artifacts" that can quickly switch between multiple colors.

When asked what is the difference between the new "fresh lamp" and the past, the customer service did not give a detailed answer, only saying that it is "more in line with the new standard", and about the standard, "every place is different". Although the merchants advertise that their products meet the lighting requirements of the State Administration of Municipal Supervision, the reporter found that according to the national standard GB 50034-2013 "Architectural Lighting Design Standards", only the color rendering index of the lighting in the farmers' market should not be less than 80, and the color temperature has not yet been specified.

Policy Trends:

Guangzhou will again clarify the requirements for "fresh lights".

It is understood that after the State Administration of Market promulgated the "Measures" last year, the Guangzhou market supervision department has increased publicity in the city's wholesale markets, farmers' markets, large supermarkets, chain fresh enterprises, etc., requiring market operators and business entities to self-examine and rectify in a timely manner, and guide operators to choose lamps and lanterns with color rendering index and color temperature closer to natural light, and implement the requirements of the new regulations on time. In addition, the Guangzhou Market Supervision Bureau is formulating a local standard "Food Management Code for Fresh Chain Enterprises", which will make clearer requirements for the color code characteristics, color temperature value, and color rendering coefficient of "fresh lamps".

The Guangzhou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation urged operators to remind that if they continue to mislead consumers by using lighting and other facilities that significantly alter the sensory properties such as the true color and luster of edible agricultural products after December 1, 2023, they may face penalties ranging from 5,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan.

Previously reported:

Some stall owners are worried that the ban will affect the meat stall business

In August last year, when a reporter from Nandu Bay Finance Society visited a number of vegetable markets in Guangzhou, some stall owners said that they had learned about the new regulations prohibiting "fresh lights" through channels such as the Internet and television, but more than half of the stall owners still said that they did not know about the new regulations. For the phenomenon of using "fresh lights", most stall owners believe that it is an industry phenomenon and tendency.

"Everyone is using it, and so am I. When asked why he used the "fresh lamp", Uncle Yuan, the owner of the pork stall in the Haoxian Road market, told the reporter of Nandu Bay Finance Society that the "fresh lamp" used in the stall is just like the light light of the clothes in the clothing store and the atmosphere light on the office building, etc., mainly to achieve the effect of prosperous sales and make business better.

"Tell us what is forbidden, and tell us what we can use. Regarding the new regulations prohibiting "fresh lights", Brother Ming of the raw fish stall in Guigang Market said that since there are relevant regulations, everyone will definitely be willing to follow the general direction. But at the same time, it is also hoped that the relevant departments can introduce more detailed standards for lighting and facilities to help stall owners better operate and sell fresh edible agricultural products.

Sister Rong of the fresh stall in Haoxian Road Market said that recently, there have been incidents of new regulations and "fresh lights" misleading consumers on TV and the Internet. But in her opinion, the use of "fresh lights" is more of a Xi habitual behavior, only a small number of people will use the "kill chickens and eggs" method to mislead consumers, "I personally will not do this, after all, business is about long-term reputation." ”

Some stall owners also expressed concern that the ban on "fresh lights" would affect the business of meat stalls. Huang Bo, the owner of a meat stall in Dongchuan New Street, said that because the meat is not illuminated by "fresh lights" to correct the color, it will "look white and have no flesh color". Uncle Liu from the farmers' market on the left also said that customers who often come to buy vegetables pay special attention to the appearance of fresh vegetables, and hope to buy the best meat or vegetables. Therefore, although he will not sell some inferior quality products through "fresh lights", if he has the help of "fresh lights", business will be better.

Issue 162 in total

Co-ordinating editor: Dong Xiaoyan

Writing/Photography: Nandu reporter Zhang Siqi, Chen Zhuorui, Qiu Kangzheng, practical Xi, Tang Jiajun, Hu Wanling, Wang Xi