In the early hours of this morning, a post with images on a social platform pushed Heytea to the forefront of food safety public opinion. The posting netizen claimed that last night they witnessed an employee in the preparation room of a milk tea shop, while answering a phone call, repeatedly stirring the milk tea about to be served with the handle end of a long-handled spoon; the scene made them doubt the store's hygiene standards. As the post's popularity climbed, many milk tea consumers said it was hard to accept, especially since Heytea has always been known among its peers for strict food safety management. However, some voices held that the employee was only taking a call and did not stop working with their hands, so there was no need to overinterpret it; more catering practitioners explicitly pointed out that mobile phones are not allowed in preparation rooms in the first place, and stirring a drink with the spoon handle inverted is clearly a violation. After the incident escalated, although Heytea's official customer service account responded to the poster, it did not give a clear answer on whether the employee's actions violated regulations. [more…]

The well-known tea beverage brand Yihotang has been exposed by media undercover investigations at multiple stores in Zhengzhou for serious food safety issues: ingredients that should have been discarded after closing were used again the next day, expired materials had their labels swapped to extend their shelf life, moldy strawberries were washed and used as usual, flying insects that fell into toppings were fished out and still used in products, and even prepared drinks in which bugs were found were resealed and continued to be sold. Even more shockingly, the staff were indifferent to this, claiming that "as long as it doesn't kill people, it's fine." After the incident was exposed, Yihotang issued an apology statement, and the stores involved were closed for rectification. Lawyers pointed out that the relevant actions have violated multiple provisions of the Food Safety Law. Netizens reacted differently, with some saying that chaos in franchise stores is common, while others called on the brand to effectively fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. [more…]

In recent years, dark-themed beverages marketed for their "black" appeal have proliferated in the food and beverage market, attracting many curious consumers with their unique appearance. However, such products may harbor food safety risks. Recently, the Market Supervision Bureau of Xuhui District, Shanghai, discovered during an inspection of a milk tea shop that its "Black Coconut Strawberry Milk" was unusually dark black in color. An investigation confirmed that the staff had illegally added "vegetable carbon black" during preparation. This act violated food additive usage standards, and the shop was ordered to rectify the issue and was penalized. Notably, the brand involved is none other than "Benz Tea," which went viral last year, with its first Hangzhou store setting a record of thousands queuing and scalpers reselling cups for as much as 300 yuan. This incident once again reminds us that creative beverages must also strictly adhere to safety bottom lines. [more…]

A not-yet-opened beverage shop in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, has sparked public debate after naming itself "Jingcha" (a homophone of "police tea") and using cartoon police imagery in its store decorations. Some see it as merely a clever pun, while more people worry it could mislead consumers. Market regulators and public security authorities have stepped in to investigate, and lawyers point out that the name may violate enterprise name registration regulations. Behind the incident lies not just the compliance of a single shop name, but the boundary between commercial creativity and public symbols. [more…]

Starbucks is recently facing a class-action lawsuit in California, USA, where three lactose-intolerant consumers accuse the company of charging extra fees when substituting milk with plant-based milk in drinks, alleging discrimination and violation of civil rights laws, and seeking $5 million in damages. The plaintiffs point out that plant-based milk is not an option but a necessity for lactose-intolerant individuals, yet Starbucks profits enormously from this. Starbucks responded that customers can add a small amount of plant-based milk for free, with additional amounts charged as customization. Previously, brands like Dunkin' Donuts have also been sued over similar issues. This article will outline the incident, both parties' positions, and industry background, and include recommendations related to Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, a Heytea store in Shenzhen has landed in a whirlwind of public opinion for recruiting only employees aged 18 to 25. After a job seeker over 25 was rejected, it sparked heated discussion among netizens. Some criticized it as blatant age discrimination, while others believed that because work at milk tea shops is intense, companies have the right to choose freely. Behind the incident, it reflects the widespread preference for the "youth dividend" in the current job market, as well as the difficulties faced by middle-aged job seekers. Legal professionals pointed out that such a practice is suspected of violating the Labor Law and the Employment Promotion Law, and the Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions also spoke out in criticism. Heytea responded that it was a communication deviation at a single store. Who is right and who is wrong in this controversy? Will young people over 25 still continue to drink Heytea? [more…]

Recently, a video of a Chagee employee handling tea drinks with bare hands spread rapidly online, sparking widespread public concern about food safety issues at chain tea beverage brands. In the video, the employee, without wearing gloves, directly grabbed ice cubes and lemons and reached into a shaker cup to pound and stir the drink, prompting netizens to exclaim they were "disgusted." Although the poster explained that the footage was filmed after closing hours using damaged inventory to mimic the "Indian milk tea" meme, public opinion did not subside. Subsequently, netizens discovered that employees of several other brands, including Luckin Coffee, Yidian Dian, and Goodme, had also posted similar meme videos. Chagee officially issued an urgent investigation notice, imposing an indefinite suspension and rectification on the store involved, dismissing the employee involved, and demoting managerial personnel. This article will review the sequence of events and responses from all parties, and explore the boundary between food safety and entertainment-oriented marketing in the tea beverage industry. [more…]

Recently, a Thai-style milk tea with packaging resembling laundry detergent has gone viral online. It was first launched by a Thai restaurant in Nanjing, and subsequently imitated by merchants in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and other places. Priced at 18 yuan per bucket, this drink has attracted many young people to check in thanks to its novelty packaging, but it has also raised public concerns about children accidentally consuming it. The shop responded that the product sells well and no complaints have been received; however, experts and lawyers have pointed out that such packaging design carries a risk of misleading consumers and may violate regulations on food packaging labeling. This article will review the whole incident and explore the balance between innovative packaging and consumer safety. For coffee enthusiasts, the boundaries of beverage packaging are likewise worth pondering, and Front Street Coffee has always advocated upholding safety and responsibility amid innovation. [more…]

Yesterday, the topic of "the first cup of milk tea in autumn" sparked widespread attention on social platforms, with orders at chain tea beverage brand stores surging, and some stores surpassing a thousand cups in sales within a short period. Under the pressure of the order surge, a scene appeared at a Certain Tea store where a JD delivery rider entered the bar area to assist with packing. After the video circulated, it triggered polarized discussions among netizens. Some praised the rider's goodwill in proactively helping, while others questioned whether non-store employees entering the operation area complies with food safety regulations. Surrounding bar operation permissions, health certificate requirements, and store management systems, various viewpoints clashed, and the incident quickly became a hot topic of discussion. [more…]

After the widespread adoption of mobile payments, ordering by scanning a QR code has become standard in bubble tea shops and restaurants. But have you ever noticed that many ordering mini-programs require you to authorize your mobile phone number or even more personal information before use? In October of this year, the Market Supervision Administration of Putuo District, Shanghai, investigated and dealt with a case involving a catering company illegally collecting consumer information, which sparked widespread attention. The restaurant guided customers to order by scanning a QR code on the table, but forcibly required authorization of their mobile phone numbers, and did not inform them of the purpose of use. Moreover, the backend allowed arbitrary access to and download of member data such as names, genders, mobile phone numbers, and card balances. Ultimately, the company was warned and fined 50,000 yuan. With the official implementation of the Personal Information Protection Law, penalties for such acts will be significantly increased, and consumers' privacy rights deserve more attention. [more…]

Recently, Mixue Bingcheng made trending news due to an employee's sudden death. According to media reports, a female employee in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, suddenly collapsed after working only three hours on her first day on the job and tragically passed away despite rescue efforts. Mixue Bingcheng responded that they are negotiating with the family, and the incident is still under investigation. This tragedy is not only lamentable but has also sparked widespread discussion on legal issues such as employer liability, work-related injury determination, and social insurance contributions. At the same time, Mixue Bingcheng's previous fine for employing child labor has been brought up again. The health and rights protection of workers has once again become a focal point. [more…]

Cramming before an exam is a scene you might not expect to see in a milk tea shop. Recently, netizens captured a ChaPanda employee hunched over a stack of color-printed materials at the counter, muttering to themselves and occasionally looking up to memorize things silently. Upon investigation, it turned out this was tied to ChaPanda's soon-to-be-officially-announced global premium brand ambassador, Cheng Yi. It's not unusual for a brand to have employees familiarize themselves with ambassador information in advance, but at the same time, they strictly prohibit any early leaks. Material control is so tight that stores must send back photos of unopened watermarked materials every night, and violating stores even face financial penalties and contract termination. Many interpret this as having learned from the disastrous Gu Ming x Love and Deepspace collaboration. However, some consumers believe that rather than spending so much effort memorizing materials, it would be better to thoroughly study the recipes and techniques—after all, drink quality is the foundation of repeat business. [more…]

A single lemon seed in a cup of iced fresh lemonade actually prompted a market regulation inspection? Recently, a netizen in Hefei, Anhui, captured footage of a Mixue Ice Cream & Tea store being inspected by market regulation staff, triggered by a consumer complaint that the drink tasted bitter and had lemon seeds left in the cup. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with some finding the complaint absurd and others believing a consumer would not make such a fuss over a mere lemon seed. The Mixue store responded that freshly cut lemon slices containing seeds is normal and that their presence in the drink was not due to employee misconduct. Market regulation staff confirmed they had inspected the store and made clear that the lemon seed issue does not involve food safety. This seemingly trivial customer complaint reflects the various bizarre complaints the tea beverage industry faces daily and has also sparked discussion about standardized procedures for freshly cut fruit drinks. [more…]

The Binglang incident has made milk tea consumers especially wary of ingredients such as non-dairy creamer and base milk, while 1 Dian Dian, having long used A2 milk to make its drinks, is seen as a breath of fresh air in the industry. Recently, however, many regular customers have noticed that stores no longer accept "remove the tea base" requests in the notes. Why was this thoughtful service, originally designed to accommodate caffeine-sensitive groups such as pregnant women and children, suddenly discontinued? Behind it lie milk consumption costs, store operating standards, and contractual constraints with suppliers. At the same time, consumers who are used to ordering a tea-base-free milk drink with toppings have also lost a cost-effective option. For those who easily suffer insomnia after drinking tea at night, whether an alternative exists has become their biggest concern. [more…]

Another shutdown message has come from the tea beverage sector. Xiexie Tea, invested by well-known host Ma Dong, has closed its last national outlet, the Shenzhen Dalang store, on July 16, completely wiping out its physical stores. This celebrity brand, founded in 2018, once rode on the hype of traffic-driving guests like Ma Dong and the New Pants band, selling a cup of milk tea for nearly 70 yuan, but after the pandemic, its prices slid all the way down to the 12-yuan range, all bakery products were removed, and its pivot to smart milk tea stores showed no improvement. Its official Weibo, WeChat public account, and mini-program have successively stopped updating or been discontinued. The traffic dividends and operational shortcomings of celebrity catering have once again become a focal point of attention in the coffee and tea beverage industry. [more…]

The "Crazy Saturday" that just passed once again saw major chain beverage brands flooded with free redemption orders. Yet after the revelry ended, store counters were piled high with sealed drinks that no one came to collect, with some stores pouring out nearly a hundred cups in a single night. Staff members felt both heartache and helplessness, while onlooking netizens bluntly said, "If you're not going to drink it, don't order it." What problems does this waste phenomenon, fueled by platform subsidies, actually reflect? How should consumers, merchants, and platforms find a balance among themselves? This article takes you through the full picture of the incident, and you're also welcome to follow Front Street Coffee to chat together about the things behind beverage consumption. [more…]

Recently, a video of a milk tea shop employee heavily spraying insecticide inside the store has drawn widespread attention. In the footage, the employee is seen directly spraying insecticide on the counter, water dispenser, ingredient area, and other surfaces, without taking any protective measures for food-contact surfaces, leaving many netizens and industry peers alike gasping in disbelief. After the incident came to light, the person who posted it reported the matter to the 12345 platform, and the Shanghai Hongkou District Market Supervision Administration has launched an investigation. The store involved has been ordered to close, and the brand has suspended the employee suspected of the action. This incident has once again brought the sanitation and disinfection practices of food service establishments and food safety issues into the public spotlight. [more…]

The milk tea industry has recently exposed yet another labor abuse scandal. A Shuyi Tealicious store in Changsha was fined 10,000 yuan by the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau for hiring a child worker who was only 13 years old. The incident came to light after a citizen report, and an investigation found that the child had worked at the store for several months before being fired, which then led to a dispute. The store owner involved argued that the child claimed to be over 15 years old and that they only agreed to hire the child because they were short-staffed. This case not only highlights loopholes in employment management at some food and beverage outlets, but also sparked public discussion about the protection of minors and the enforcement of labor laws. [more…]

Recently, a university student looking for a part-time job at a milk tea shop was stunned by the hourly wage of 8 yuan, only to be retorted at as "scrap" by the recruiter, an incident that quickly sparked heated discussion online. After the job seeker turned the chat records into a video and posted it, netizens engaged in fierce debate over the understanding of dialect slang, the issue of respect from the recruiter, and part-time wage standards. Employees of the shop involved have apologized, and the brand Shuyi Tealicious also responded, stating that the shop has been closed for handling and promising that follow-up negotiations will be held to rectify wage management for franchisees. The part-time ecosystem behind a cup of milk tea deserves the attention of every coffee lover and job seeker. [more…]

Manner Coffee's bring-your-own-cup discount has always been a highlight attracting consumers, and many customers, in order to save 5 yuan, are used to bringing their own cups to buy coffee every day. However, recently a customer was refused by a barista when using a Nai Xue limited-edition milk tea cup, while on social media someone succeeded in buying with the same type of cup, raising questions about inconsistent enforcement standards across Manner stores. At the same time, whether plastic takeaway cups can be used as bring-your-own cups has also become a hot topic of discussion. This article will sort through the course of events, the differences in plastic materials, and the views of various parties, and bring related recommendations from the Front Street brand. [more…]