Introduction:When the popular bubble tea brand Lelecha was exposed for having a moving live worm in one of its drinks, it drew significant attention and concern from consumers. This article details the incident, including customer feedback, the store’s response, findings from market regulatory authorities, and further explores potential risks in beverage preparation and storage. It aims to help readers develop a more rational consumer mindset and learn how to select and enjoy safer coffee and tea products.
Recently, a consumer in Fuqing, Fujian, shared on social media that they found a wriggling light-colored live worm in their “Vanilla Cream Melon Chiffon Milk Tea Smoothie” purchased from Lelecha, sparking widespread online discussion. It is understood that the customer ordered the smoothie via a delivery platform on March 19 and discovered the foreign object upon receipt. They immediately reported it to the store and also shared their experience on social media.
After learning about the incident, the Lelecha outlet promptly reviewed the production surveillance footage from that day but found no abnormality. The staff further explained that since this drink is a type of smoothie, it should normally be kept at 0°C or below. Under such low temperatures, even if insects were present, it would be unlikely for them to move around as actively as shown in the video. Therefore, the store questioned the origin of the worm.
In response to the customer’s allegations, the store personnel also revealed that they had made multiple attempts to contact the customer to better understand the situation and offer compensation, but the customer refused to communicate. They also stated they would not accept any form of compensation and only wished to keep the post up to continue drawing attention.
The incident quickly caught the attention of local regulatory authorities. According to the Fuqing City Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, they immediately conducted an on-site inspection of the involved store, focusing on hygiene conditions, the shelf life of ingredients, purchase records, and the cleanliness of the preparation area and equipment. As of now, no obvious violations or anomalies have been found. The relevant authorities are also maintaining contact with the customer in hopes of further clarifying the facts.
Notably, the customer mentioned in the comments section of the social media post that the Lelecha store had called to say that if the customer could not provide concrete evidence proving the issue originated from the store, posting the related video online might involve damaging the business’s reputation. The customer expressed strong dissatisfaction with this and stated they had no intention of deleting the video nor were they currently open to negotiation.
Lelecha’s brand team further clarified on March 24 that after receiving the customer’s complaint about the live worm in the drink on March 19, they immediately processed a refund for the customer and promised to conduct an internal investigation and respond. The following day (March 20), local market supervision authorities conducted a detailed inspection of the store, including checks on hygiene conditions, the validity of raw materials and purchase invoices, as well as the cleanliness of the operation area and machines. All results were normal. Currently, the brand’s customer service and store staff are still actively communicating with the customer in hopes of providing a resolution that satisfies them.
As of press time, the original video and related posts that were circulating on social media can no longer be found, and it is presumed that they may have been removed. Although the investigation into this incident has not yet reached a final conclusion, this case serves as a reminder to consumers that when choosing tea beverage brands, in addition to paying attention to product flavor and brand reputation, they should also consider the preparation process and storage conditions of the drinks to reduce similar food safety risks.
For coffee and tea enthusiasts, understanding these food safety incidents helps us approach our daily beverage consumption more rationally. Professional advice suggests that when selecting drinks, priority should be given to brands with a good reputation, transparent hygiene practices, and excellent customer service. It is also important to ensure that beverages are prepared and stored under hygienic and appropriate temperature conditions, so you can enjoy each carefully crafted drink with greater peace of mind.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
