Introduction:Live insects found in the bread cabinet of a Guangzhou Nayuki store have drawn consumer attention to the food hygiene practices of tea beverage brands. In addition to the issue of dual-door designs that may allow insects to enter easily, crumbs trapped in the cabinet door tracks further expose cleaning oversights. This article delves into the underlying sanitation management issues behind the incident and offers practical pest prevention tips to help readers understand how to avoid hygiene pitfalls in beverage shops.

Recently, a Nayuki store in Guangzhou was reported to have live insects inside its bread cabinet, once again sparking public scrutiny over the food hygiene standards of tea beverage brands. According to netizens, around 5 PM on November 5th, two or three small cockroaches were seen crawling on bread in the outermost bread cabinet of the outlet, while several unidentified small flying insects were also spotted climbing along the glass cabinet doors. Given the high customer traffic at the time, the situation understandably raised concerns about the overall hygiene of the store.

In response to the incident, the store manager explained that the issue might stem from the design of the dual-door bread cabinet. He noted that sometimes customers open the doors themselves, and staff fail to close them promptly, leaving the cabinets open for extended periods and allowing cockroaches to crawl in from the outside. Although the staff regularly disinfect the cabinet and had not detected any pests before placing the bread inside, completely preventing such problems remains difficult.

Notably, a small and inconspicuous notice is posted in the bottom right corner of the bread cabinet’s glass door, which reads: “If you wish to purchase bread, please call a staff member. Do not open the door yourself, thank you.” However, due to the discreet placement of the sign, many customers overlook it and continue to open and close the cabinet doors to retrieve pastries themselves. Staff also find it challenging to monitor each customer’s actions, thus providing an opportunity for pests to enter.

Additionally, the cabinet door tracks were scattered with a significant amount of bread crumbs—an environment highly attractive to insects and hard to detect without close inspection. It is currently unclear whether the staff regularly clean the residues in these gaps. After learning about the situation, the manager stated that the issue would be reported to the company, and they are considering modifying the bread cabinet.

After the incident, officials from the Market Supervision Administration conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed that the store holds a valid business license and food operation permit. The kitchen area is equipped with fly control devices, and relevant work receipts for "routine extermination services," as well as qualification certificates and agreements from the pest control company, were provided. However, a food industry insider pointed out on social media that dual-door cabinets without installed fly traps are actually very ineffective at pest prevention. “The lights inside the cabinet are only for illumination and do little to stop flies or other insects from entering when customers are allowed to open the doors themselves.” The insider added that similar situations are common in some chain bakeries, and since much of the bread is unpackaged, the challenge of pest prevention is even greater.

In fact, this is not the first time Nayuki has been involved in a food safety controversy. As early as August 2021, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency went undercover in Nayuki’s kitchen and exposed hygiene issues including cockroaches. At the time, the brand responded by stating that it hires professional pest control companies to conduct pest prevention measures 2 to 4 times per month, considering it a priority for store hygiene.

However, to this day, complaints about insects in Nayuki’s bread cabinets continue to surface frequently on social platforms. Relying solely on monthly routine pest control is insufficient to completely eliminate pest issues in food environments. Industry experts suggest that in addition to regular professional extermination, store managers and staff need to remain vigilant during daily operations. Any contaminated bread should be immediately removed from shelves to ensure consumer health.

Food safety has always been a top consideration for consumers when choosing a brand. This incident serves as a reminder to all tea and coffee brands that no matter how creative their products are, hygiene and quality remain the foundation of earning consumer trust. It is recommended that stores enhance the pest-proof features of their cabinetry—such as switching to one-way opening doors or installing fly traps—and ensure no food crumbs are left inside the cabinets, effectively reducing the risk of pest infestations.

One brand emphasized that if a brand wishes to stand firm in a competitive market, it must uphold high standards in hygiene management, strengthen training and supervision of frontline staff, and ensure that no detail is overlooked. Only then can it truly earn the long-term trust of customers.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.