US coffee chain Starbucks Corp yesterday said it had shut two outlets in China and was conducting an investigation after a state-backed newspaper reported that they used expired ingredients to make drinks, contravening food safety rules.
The Beijing News newspaper, in what it described as an undercover investigation, said the incidents occurred at two stores in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi.
“We take what was reported by local media very seriously, and have immediately closed the two stores in question to conduct a thorough investigation,” a Starbucks spokesperson said.
“Since entering the Chinese mainland market 22 years ago, we have been committed to implementing strict food safety standards and adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards food safety issues. We welcome the continued supervision of members of the media and the public,” the spokesperson said.
The company did not comment on the specifics of the report.
The incident became a trending topic on Weibo after the report was published.
Chinese consumers and media have become more aggressive about protecting customer rights and monitoring the behavior of big brands, especially from overseas.
China is the largest market for Starbucks outside the US with 5,360 stores as of Oct. 3, the firm’s latest earnings report showed.
The Beijing News report said one of the Starbucks stores used expired matcha liquid to make lattes, while another had put pastries up for sale that were meant to be thrown away.
As of yesterday afternoon, the topic of Starbucks’ response to the report had received more than 50 million views on Weibo.
Commenters expressed disappointment and worries over more widespread problems.
“If Starbucks is like this, the other shops really worry me,” one Weibo user named Revario said. “They suffer the scrutiny because it is a foreign brand.”
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