The "Three Sheep" made waves again. During the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, Hefei Three Sheep Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Three Sheep Network") was inspected by the local market supervision department for selling "Hong Kong Meicheng mooncakes" live. The promotional content of "black truffle is fed, Michelin master concocted" has also been questioned by the public. Wang Hai, a professional anti-counterfeiter, revealed to Modern Express (report mailbox: [email protected]) that the middle distribution material of Meicheng mooncakes is actually "black truffle flowing heart sauce", which is far from the real black truffle. "It's like prawns and shrimp paste, can it be the same thing?"
"Black truffle" or "black truffle sauce"?
In addition to promoting that Meicheng mooncakes are a Hong Kong brand and are popular in the local market, Three Sheep Network also focused on publicity in the live broadcast room, saying that some of the ingredients of Meicheng mooncakes it sells contain black truffles, which are prepared by Michelin masters.
In this regard, Wang Hai, a professional anti-counterfeiter, purchased some products of Meicheng mooncakes and conducted an evaluation. "There is no so-called 'black truffle' in the black truffle custard mooncake we bought, which is known as the 'No. 1 selling in the country'." Wang Hai posted the ingredient list and told reporters that black truffle was not directly added to the moon cake product, but black truffle flowing heart sauce was added. Among the ingredients of black truffle flow, the top three are maltitol liquid, cream and water, and the fourth is quick-frozen black truffle. "The relationship between black truffles and black truffle sauce is like prawns and shrimp paste, and it is impossible to mix them up." Wang Hai said.
In addition, Wang Hai also said that the way the ingredients in the mooncake ingredient list are indicated may also violate the food safety law. "Black truffle is a special ingredient emphasized by the Three Sheep Network, but the ingredient list only indicates that the amount of black truffle flowing sauce is greater than or equal to 2%, and the content of black truffle is not indicated. According to the provisions of the national food safety standard - General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Food, if the food label or food instruction manual specifically emphasizes the addition or containment of one or more valuable and characteristic ingredients or ingredients, the amount of the emphasized ingredients or ingredients added or the content in the finished product shall be indicated. In Wang Hai's view, this moon cake does not meet food safety standards, and according to the provisions of Article 148 of the Food Safety Law, one should be refunded to consumers and ten should be compensated. In addition, Wang Hai also believes that the relevant market supervision departments should also conduct random inspections on the product labels of Meicheng mooncakes.
Regarding Wang Hai's view, Wang Jie, a lawyer from Jiangsu Fade Dongheng Law Firm, believes that it is indeed reasonable. He said that Meicheng black truffle custard mooncakes highlighted the content of black truffles, but the ingredient list did not show the content of high-value black truffles in accordance with regulations, which was suspected of not meeting the relevant standards of the Food Safety Law, and consumers had the right to demand punitive damages from the producer or operator. "The state implements mandatory management of pre-packaged food labels, the purpose of which is to protect consumers' right to know, so that consumers can use labels to understand the situation of food and make reasonable choices. Meicheng mooncakes highlight the presence of black truffles, but the content of black truffles is not clearly labeled, which may mislead consumers. Lawyer Wang Jie said.
Market supervision department: moon cake manufacturers have not found any problems yet
According to the product label of Meicheng moon cakes, the moon cake brand (China) operation center is Guangzhou Meicheng Food Co., Ltd., and there are two manufacturers: one is Guangzhou Meicheng Food Technology Co., Ltd., located in Huadu District, Guangzhou; One is Foshan Meicheng Food Co., Ltd., located in Nanhai District, Foshan City. According to the official website of Guangzhou Meicheng Food Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Meicheng Food Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Meicheng Food Technology Co., Ltd., and Foshan Meicheng Food Co., Ltd. are all affiliated to Hong Kong Meicheng Food Group Co., Ltd.
On the morning of September 18, for another moon cake manufacturer in Foshan, a reporter from Modern Express called the Foshan Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau. The staff revealed to reporters that the bureau had intervened in dealing with the "Hong Kong Meicheng mooncake" incident a few days ago. "After investigation, it was found that the manufacturer has a business license and a food production license, and also has a legal authorization letter from Hong Kong Meicheng Food Group Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Meicheng Food Technology Co., Ltd." The staff said that the moon cakes produced by the Foshan manufacturer were sampled and no food safety problems were found.
At noon on the same day, the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Huadu District, Guangzhou City, also issued a notice, saying that one of the manufacturers of Meicheng moon cakes, Guangzhou Meicheng Food Technology Co., Ltd., had complete food production licenses and passed the food safety sampling. The reporter then called Guangzhou Meicheng Food Technology Co., Ltd. and Foshan Meicheng Food Co., Ltd., but no one answered the phone.
On the 17th, the Market Supervision Bureau of Hefei High-tech Zone reported that it had filed an investigation into Three Sheep Network Technology Co., Ltd. on suspicion of "misleading consumers" and other behaviors.
The Modern Express reporter called the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Hefei High-tech Zone on the afternoon of September 18. The staff said that the incident is still under investigation, and if there are new developments or results, they will be announced in a timely manner.
Modern Express/Hyundai + reporter Zhu Shaoyue