KFC is sued for open mysterious spices consumers should not have the right to know

Due to unwillingness to inform consumers of the "11 kinds of mysterious spices," which are the ingredients, some consumers will KFC to court and demand the right to know. The reporter learned a few days ago that a Mr. Xu, who works in Guangzhou, saw KFC's “Colonel” packaging on the packaging claiming that he had added “11 kinds of mysterious spices”. Therefore, many of them asked KFC in advance. The true condition of the spices was not known. Recently, Mr. Xu filed a lawsuit in the Yuexiu District People’s Court of Guangzhou City and sued Yum Foods (Guangdong) Co., Ltd., claiming that the consumer’s rights protection law would be used to indemnify the doubled shopping price by 42.5 yuan, and compensate him symbolically. Mistakes, traffic, cultural and printing, communications and other objective loss of 3.15 yuan.

"Mysterious Spice" false propaganda?

Mr. Xu told reporters that on November 26 last year, he and his friends ate at KFC restaurant and found that the food was labeled as “a mystery spice” in the fresh chicken on the KFC’s “Colonial Chicken” box. , crisp and tender outside, delicious and juicy." After the consumer had consumed the “Colonial Chicken Block” claiming to contain “11 kinds of mysterious spices”, he asked the restaurant staff what the “a class of mysterious spices” were. The staff refused to reply because the answer was commercial confidential. It is also said that it is impossible for even these internal workers to know what the spices are.

“In the current laws, regulations, rules and standards of our country, spices, whether used for food, daily use, or chemical use, are spices that are publicly displayed. They are not 'mysterious' spices.” Mr. Xu pointed out that China’s consumption The Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulates that consumers have the right to know the true conditions of the goods they purchase or use, or the services they receive. Operators should also provide consumers with real information about goods or services, and should not be used as misleading false propaganda.

“The actions KFC refused to infringe violated the consumer’s right to know and choose.” The above-mentioned consumer claimed that he had sued the relevant court in Guangzhou. “If KFC cannot prove that the 'Colonel' contains 11 kinds of spices, Or the 11 kinds of spices are not in the category of 'mystery' or the spices used are not in the category of edible spices prescribed by the law of China. Such advertising is a civil fraud that misleads consumers."

Do consumers have the right to know?

Does the spice used in catering food need to be marked to inform consumers?

According to a catering industry source, before May 2011, the state had issued an announcement that catering units that required self-made hot pot ingredients, beverages, and seasonings must file with the regulatory authorities the name of the food additive used in the store, and they should have a prominent location in the store. Or publish it on the menu. "The so-called 'mysterious spices' used in KFC's foods are home-made sauces, and they must publicize the names of the food additives they use in the stores."

Wang Dingmian, a veteran of the domestic food industry, believes that consumers have the right to know about information contained in foods, including what they add, categories of added products, added amounts, nutrition, and production processes. Businesses can't wipe the ball with a variety of reasons. According to its introduction, according to the new "General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" issued last year, he understands that 80% of the additives and ingredients used in foods should be marked.

Zhao Chao, a special researcher at the Intellectual Property Center of China University of Political Science and Law pointed out that according to the provisions of the Food Safety Law, there should be labels on the packaging of pre-packaged foods. The label shall indicate the name, specification, net content, date of manufacture, ingredient or ingredient list, and the common name of the food additive used in the national standard. "If foods similar to KFC stores are not pre-packaged, the variety of spices they add still have to meet the requirements of food safety standards, especially for limited quantities of products. If consumers consult the ingredients added to food, companies should Informed that this belongs to the category of consumers' right to know."