Photo: VCG

 
A branch of Mixue Group, one of China's largest tea drink chains, is under scrutiny after reportedly using leftover lemon and orange slices to prepare its signature beverages the next day in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. Local market regulators pledged to inspect similar establishments across the region to prevent recurrence of such violations, according to media reports on Friday.

Hubei Media Group footage showed flies inside the store and insects on cup lids. Store employees reportedly described using leftover fruit as "normal operation" in an interview, raising further concerns about hygiene standards.

Workers transferred partially used lemon and orange slices into a stainless-steel container and stored it at room temperature in a back-area corner. Employees reportedly chose a spot beyond the surveillance camera's reach to avoid detection, according to Hubei Media Group.

Store manager Mr. Zou admitted the issue, calling it a violation of company policy. He told Hubei Media Group the alleged misconduct was carried out by store staff without authorization, insisting that employees are instructed to discard leftover ingredients rather than reuse them. When questioned about oversight, Zou said he "cannot monitor operations 24/7" and promised stricter supervision.

Local media reported that regulators found improperly labeled leftover materials on the second floor during the inspection. Regulators confiscated the items and officially filed a case against the outlet.

Local market regulators vowed to conduct inspections on similar establishments throughout the region to prevent any repeat of such violations. The increased scrutiny aligns with World Consumer Rights Day on Saturday, featured in Hubei Media Group's special consumer protection coverage.

China continues to intensify efforts to protect consumer rights. According to China Media Group, the 315 platform, launched by the China Consumers Association, has registered more than 700,000 consumers and received over 585,000 complaints and inquiries as of March 13. Nearly 510,000 cases have been resolved, recovering 410 million yuan ($57 million) in economic losses for consumers.

Mixue Group, which operates over 45,000 stores worldwide, debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 3. On Friday, the company's stock rose 3.84 percent to close at HK$406 ($52.23) per share, pushing its market capitalization to HK$153.09 billion.

Global Times