Bleached Chicken Feet Stir Industry Turmoil, Multiple Brands Respond on Product Safety

(Source: Beijing Business Today)

On March 15, CCTV's "3.15" evening show exposed the chaos in the production of popular online chicken feet. These viral chicken feet, which often sell tens of thousands of pieces, are produced in dirty and disorganized workshops. Despite the poor environment, the final products appear clean and appealing because the factory uses hydrogen peroxide to bleach the chicken feet. Hydrogen peroxide, scientifically known as peroxide, is a strong oxidizer and disinfectant commonly used for sterilization. Direct contact can cause severe damage to skin and the digestive tract. When used in food processing, it destroys proteins and other nutrients, masking food spoilage. China's "Food Safety National Standard for Food Additives Use (GB 2760-2024)" clearly states that hydrogen peroxide cannot be used in chicken feet processing. This chemical damages nutrients like proteins in food, and long-term consumption of foods soaked in it can cause oral mucosal damage, liver and kidney impairment, and other health hazards. Excessive intake can be life-threatening.

During the "3.15" evening show, two companies—Sichuan Shufu Xiang Food Co., Ltd. and Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd.—were named for illegally bleaching chicken feet with hydrogen peroxide. Tianyancha information shows that Sichuan Shufu Xiang Food Co., Ltd. was established in December 1997, with Wang Liqun as legal representative, registered capital of 23.8 million yuan, and its business scope includes food production, sales, and catering services. Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd. was founded in April 2003, with Zeng Qiao as legal representative, registered capital of 5 million yuan, and its business includes production and sale of meat products, bean products, vegetable products, other aquatic products, food operations, import and export of goods, and general storage services. On March 15, Beijing Business Today attempted to contact these companies by phone for interviews, but as of publication, the calls were not answered. Currently, related products such as "Guai Xifu Pickled Pepper Chicken Feet" associated with Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd. are no longer searchable on major e-commerce platforms.

According to Tianyancha risk information, in July 2023 and February 2025, Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd. was fined by the Hechuan District Market Supervision Administration for producing and selling foods beyond permitted scope and exceeding limits of food additive use, including products that were spoiled, rancid, moldy, contaminated, foreign objects, adulterated, or with abnormal sensory properties.

Chicken feet, a beloved delicacy among consumers, are popular both at home and on snack shelves, leading to the emergence of well-known brands such as Chunjiang, Zou Sanhe, Tuoguxia, Xiao Huyan, and Youyou. Youyou Food went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in May 2019, becoming the "First Stock of Pickled Pepper Chicken Feet," and has established itself as a leader in this niche with its flagship product, pickled pepper chicken feet. Since 2024, driven by channel expansion and product restructuring, Youyou Food's performance has significantly improved, with revenue reaching 1.182 billion yuan in 2024, up 22.37% year-on-year, and net profit attributable to shareholders of 157 million yuan, up 35.44%. In the first three quarters of 2025, revenue was 1.245 billion yuan, up 40.39%, with net profit of 174 million yuan, up 43.34%.

In response to the recent exposure of bleached chicken feet, several brands quickly issued statements emphasizing their products' compliance and safety. Zou Sanhe customer service stated, "We produce legally and in compliance. We do not use substances that are banned by the state. Our factory is large and strictly supervised by multiple departments, and all products have batch testing reports and third-party inspection reports." Youyou customer service responded, "Our products do not use hydrogen peroxide during production; all are made strictly according to national standards." Chunjiang customer service said, "We are a legitimate manufacturer, and our production strictly follows national standards." Xiao Huyan customer service stated, "Our products are produced normally, and each batch undergoes strict quality inspection." Tuoguxia customer service also said, "Our chicken feet are not soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Rest assured! Using it in meat products is illegal, and as a well-known company, you can trust our quality and reputation."

Food industry analyst Zhu Danpeng commented that in the past five years, the rise of new-generation consumers has kept chicken feet and other trendy snack foods popular. Some unscrupulous brands and vendors use hydrogen peroxide for quick bleaching to improve appearance, seriously endangering consumer health. Regulatory authorities should increase penalties, act swiftly, and target typical illegal enterprises through strict enforcement to purify the food industry.

Crisis public relations expert and partner at Fuzhou Gongsun Ce Public Relations, Zhan Junhao, pointed out that after the bleaching chicken feet incident is exposed, companies must undertake a series of trust rebuilding measures in the long term. They should establish transparent quality control across the entire supply chain, open up production traceability and visual supervision, introduce third-party authoritative testing, and regularly publish results. Using verifiable and perceptible standards to replace verbal self-certification, along with proactive, transparent communication mechanisms, can help restore consumer confidence and industry credibility.

Beijing Business Today reporters: Tao Feng, Wang Yuetong