"Earth Pit Pickled Vegetables": Pitfalls for Brands, Hazards for Health
Compiled from: The Beijing News
Case review
According to reports, Hunan Chaqi Vegetable Industry processes Laotan pickled cabbage packets for some instant noodle companies, claiming to use the traditional Laotan craft and sufficient fermentation time. The pickled cabbage from the company’s standardized fermentation pools is used for processing export products, while the pickled cabbage in the Laotan pickled cabbage packets is “soil pit pickled cabbage” purchased from outside.
In addition, Jinrui Food Co., Ltd., which was exposed at the 3·15 Gala, is also a relatively large sauerkraut processing enterprise in Huarong County and also does OEM processing of old-style pickled sauerkraut for some food companies. The production manager of Jinrui Food Co., Ltd. said that it would purchase some “soil-pit sauerkraut.” The production manager admitted that the soil-pit sauerkraut collected from farmers would undergo multiple processes such as cleaning, seven-day fermentation in jars, and chopping, and some of the original impurities would be difficult to detect with the naked eye.
In its first statement released on the evening of March 15, Uni-President Enterprises stated that after checking the company's transaction records, Hunan Chaqi Company had ceased to be a supplier of raw materials for the company's pickled vegetable packets over the past five years. The company also immediately summoned the person in charge of Hunan Jinrui Company, sealed all relevant pickled vegetable packet products, and conducted quality testing together with the participation of the Market Supervision Bureau.
In the second statement, Uni-President Enterprises stated that the pickled cabbage beef noodle is its flagship product, and the company has a strict internal supervision system for it, adhering to the traditional double-fermentation process in old jars, while sending personnel to oversee the entire process at the pickled cabbage supplier's site, with pickled cabbage self-pickled and self-used, and no external purchase allowed. The company has immediately summoned the person in charge of the pickled cabbage bag supplier to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the pickled cabbage bags supplied to Uni-President Enterprises.
[1] Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 33
Food production and operation shall comply with food safety standards and meet the following requirements:
Have premises for food raw material processing, food processing, packaging, and storage that are suitable for the variety and quantity of food produced and operated, keep the premises clean and tidy, and maintain a prescribed distance from toxic, hazardous sites and other pollution sources;
……
(8) Food production and operation personnel shall maintain personal hygiene, wash hands when handling food, and wear clean work clothes, caps, etc.; when selling unpackaged ready-to-eat food, non-toxic, clean containers, sales tools, and equipment shall be used.
Article 148
Consumers who suffer damage due to food that does not meet food safety standards may claim compensation from the operator or the producer. The producer or operator that receives a consumer's compensation claim shall implement a first-liability system, pay compensation first, and not shirk responsibility; if the producer is liable, the operator has the right to seek recourse from the producer after compensation; if the operator is liable, the producer has the right to seek recourse from the operator after compensation.
If food is produced that does not meet food safety standards, or if an operator knowingly sells food that does not meet food safety standards, consumers may, in addition to claiming compensation for losses, demand from the producer or operator a payment of ten times the price or three times the loss; if the additional compensation is less than 1,000 yuan, it shall be 1,000 yuan. However, this does not apply to defects in food labels or instructions that do not affect food safety and will not mislead consumers.
[1] The author's perspective
"Food is the first necessity of the people, and safety is the first priority of food" has long become common sense. However, the "old-style pickled cabbage" we often eat has turned out to be "dirt-pit pickled cabbage," and judging from its production process, there is no safety or hygiene to speak of. This not only exposes the lack of any sense of reverence for food safety among the individual producers who pickle cabbage in dirt pits, but also reflects the complete inaction of the companies involved regarding "safety on the tip of the tongue." It further shows that even some well-known enterprises likewise lack supervision and management of their relevant ingredient suppliers.
Furthermore, the problems exposed by this pit pickled cabbage incident may not be absent in the production of other goods. Therefore, both relevant enterprises and functional departments should take this opportunity to examine and reflect on whether they have truly played the role of gatekeepers and placed food safety in a prominent position, as this concerns the health and even lives of every citizen.
As consumers, if we purchase and consume food that does not meet food safety standards, we can demand compensation for losses according to relevant laws and regulations, and producers or sellers cannot use the lack of personal injury to consumers as a defense. This provision prioritizing consumer protection not only strengthens the protection of consumer rights but also serves as a warning to food producers and operators.
In summary, food producers and operators must uphold their business bottom line and ensure food safety, or they will face severe penalties; consumers should enhance their legal awareness and be adept at safeguarding their rights, thereby fostering a good consumption environment.
