The fifteenth moon is full on the sixteenth, "plastic mooncakes" cause concern.

[4] Compiled from: Red Star News
 
Case review
[2] On September 11, a woman from Suizhou, Hubei, said she found plastic paper in the first bite of a mooncake from Bestore purchased on a food delivery platform.

 
 

[3] The customer, Ms. Yin, stated that when communicating with the store, they offered her another mooncake of the same price as compensation, but she considered it a food safety issue and did not agree.

[4] In response, the store said the plastic in the mooncake might have been introduced during production due to raw materials, and the matter had been resolved through negotiation with the consumer, adding that specific details could be inquired from the company.
 
[5] On September 12, Bestore’s official Weibo account issued a statement mentioning that upon receiving the customer complaint on September 11, the company immediately communicated with the customer and actively worked to resolve the issue. The customer expressed satisfaction with the company’s solution and returned the product to the purchase store to assist in further investigation into the cause.

 

 
[1] Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China

Article 148

[6] Consumers who suffer harm due to food not meeting food safety standards can claim compensation from the operator or the producer. The producer or operator receiving the claim must implement a first-responsibility system, pay compensation first, and not shirk responsibility. If the producer is at fault, the operator can seek recourse from the producer after compensation; if the operator is at fault, the producer can seek recourse from the operator after compensation.

If a food product fails to meet food safety standards, or if a business knowingly sells such food, consumers may demand compensation for losses and also seek punitive damages from the producer or seller amounting to ten times the price or three times the losses; if the additional compensation is less than 1,000 yuan, it shall be 1,000 yuan. However, this does not apply to minor defects in food labels or instructions that do not affect food safety or mislead consumers.

 
 

 
[1] The author's perspective
In the snack industry, Bestore is considered one of the first leaders in high-end domestic snacks, not only for its distinctive flavors but also for its consistently high prices. Yet, this "high price" has not ensured food safety that consumers can trust. In recent years, Bestore has frequently been exposed for food safety issues. On a certain complaint platform, as of the end of August this year, the number of complaints about Bestore's food safety problems had exceeded 1,600, with terms like "mold," "plastic," and "expired" frequently appearing.
 
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncake sales soar, driven not only by people's love for this food but also by cultural heritage. However, this joyful mood was shattered by a piece of plastic. Amid continuous doubts, Bestore's stock price has been declining, from a peak market value of around 34 billion yuan at its listing to only 11.1 billion yuan now. Disappointment keeps mounting, and over time, Bestore has lost its original customer base and the support that a business relies on to survive.