Malatang Manufacturer "Under Verification"
Amid ongoing food hygiene controversies in China, criticism is pouring in after foreign substances presumed to be bat bodies were found in instant Malatang sold by a famous food company.
Regarding the foreign substance found in Malatang... "The mental shock is immense"
According to local media such as Pengpai News on the 30th, Mr. Liu from Tianjin claimed on social media on the 27th, "Foreign substances that appear to be bat bodies came out of instant Malatang purchased at a nearby supermarket," and released related videos.
In the video, a black foreign substance believed to have come from the Malatang was contained. Mr. Liu said, "While heating the Malatang and eating the broth and ingredients, my child picked up what he thought was seaweed, but it was a bat's wing joint," adding, "Both my child and I are so mentally shocked that we cannot eat anything."
He continued, "There is a possibility that viruses could be transmitted through bats, and since we do not know how long the incubation period of viruses in bats is, we feel anxious," and appealed, "If health problems arise later, who should be held responsible?"
As the controversy spread, the manufacturer Yangguofu Foods stated, "We are investigating the authenticity." Established in 2003, the company sells Malatang and Malatang sauces through over 6,000 franchise stores in China and 21 overseas franchises. Since 2021, packaged instant Malatang has also been sold through supermarkets and other outlets.
Continuing food controversies in China... deboning lamb ribs by mouth
Foreign substance found in food at a university cafeteria in China. [Image source= Sangyu Newspaper·Yonhap News]
Recently, food hygiene issues have been repeatedly raised in China. Earlier in June, a rat head was found in food at a vocational school cafeteria in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, sparking controversy. The school and Nanchang authorities initially explained it as a "duck neck," but after the controversy spread, they launched an investigation and concluded it was indeed a rat head.
Last month, a video was released showing a worker urinating in the malt storage area at the third Qingdao Brewery factory in Qingdao, Shandong Province. This video caused the company to lose 6.7 billion yuan (approximately 1.2 trillion won) in market capitalization overnight.
Recently, a male worker at a butcher shop in Anhui Province posted a video on social media showing him deboning raw lamb ribs with his mouth, claiming it was a traditional technique. However, this provoked fierce criticism from consumers.
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