Introduction:A Luckin Coffee outlet in Shanghai was fined 5,000 yuan by the market supervision authority after an employee removed the outer packaging label of a pre-packaged food item, "Mini Mochi," without the customer’s consent. Although the product in question was sold for only 6.9 yuan and the illegal gain was just 2.67 yuan, this act violated the mandatory labeling regulations for pre-packaged foods under China’s Food Safety Law. This article details the incident, the legal basis involved, and explains the importance of pre-packaged labels for consumer right to know, while also providing practical details that both businesses and consumers should be aware of.
A branch of Luckin Coffee in Shanghai was fined 5,000 yuan by the market regulatory authorities after an employee removed the outer packaging label of a pre-packaged food item without authorization. The incident began when a customer purchased "Mini Mochi" from the store, and the staff took off the labeled outer packaging without consent before handing over the product. Though seemingly a minor action, it breached the strict regulations on labeling for pre-packaged foods under the Food Safety Law.
According to a complaint received by the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, the customer reported that the "Mini Mochi" pre-packaged food sold at Luckin’s Minhang Lianhang San Store had its label information removed without their permission. After investigation, it was confirmed that the product was priced at 6.9 yuan, with a purchase cost of 4.23 yuan, resulting in an illegal gain of 2.67 yuan. Despite the small amount involved, the act was determined to be the sale of pre-packaged food without labels, which constitutes a violation.
Under the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, producing or operating pre-packaged food without labels, or with labels or instructions that do not comply with regulations, can lead to confiscation of the illegal gains and related food products by the authorities. Depending on the severity, fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 yuan may be imposed. If the value of the goods exceeds 10,000 yuan, the penalties are more severe, potentially up to ten times the value of the goods, and may even include suspension of business or revocation of the business license.
In this case, although the illegal gain of the Luckin outlet was only 2.67 yuan, it was still fined 5,000 yuan, demonstrating the regulatory authorities’ emphasis on food safety labeling requirements. Labels on pre-packaged foods are not only a legal requirement but also a crucial tool for protecting consumers’ right to know. Labels typically include the product name, ingredients, production date, shelf life, storage conditions, and manufacturer information—details that help consumers assess the quality and safety of the food.
It is worth noting that many consumers may not realize the importance of pre-packaged labels, but for ready-to-eat desserts like "Mini Mochi," the labels provide essential production and storage information. Businesses handling pre-packaged foods should strictly adhere to the principle of not removing or covering labels without authorization, ensuring that consumers have access to complete information. For consumers, it is also important to check whether the labels on pre-packaged foods are intact when making purchases, in order to protect their own rights.
Although the fine in this case is relatively small, it serves as a wake-up call for the entire coffee and food retail industry. Even minor operational oversights can lead to legal liability. Businesses should strengthen employee training to ensure adequate awareness of labeling regulations for pre-packaged foods, thereby avoiding unintentional violations.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
