JAKARTA - Popular US coffee shop chain Starbucks announced the closure of two outlets in China and launched an investigation, after a government-backed newspaper reported that both outlets were using expired ingredients to make drinks, violating food safety regulations.
The Beijing News, in what it described as a classified investigation, said the incidents took place at two shops in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi.
"We take what local media reports very seriously, and immediately closed the two stores concerned to conduct a thorough investigation", a Starbucks spokesperson said, citing Reuters December 13.
"Since entering the mainland China market 22 years ago, we have been committed to implementing strict food safety standards and adopting a 'zero tolerance' policy on food safety issues. We welcome continued scrutiny from members of the media and the public", the spokesperson said.
The company did not comment on the specifics of the report. The newspaper later said Wuxi local authorities were investigating the shops.
The incident became a trending topic on China's Twitter-like social media site Weibo after the report was published. Chinese consumers and media are becoming more aggressive in protecting customer rights and monitoring the behavior of big brands, especially from overseas.
Some targets, such as Canadian winter clothing brand Canada Goose which filed a complaint about its refund policy, have been the target of a government rebuke, while Chinese brands such as milk tea chain Nayuki have also attracted public attention.
To note, China is the largest market for Starbucks outside the United States with 5,360 stores as of October 3, the company's latest earnings report showed.
The Beijing News report said one Starbucks store used expired matcha liquid to make lattes, while another was selling pastries that should have been thrown away.
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As of Monday afternoon, the topic of Starbucks' response to the Beijing News report had received more than 50 million views on Weibo. Commentators expressed disappointment and concern over the wider issue.
"If Starbucks is like this, other stores really worry me. They suffer scrutiny because it's a foreign brand", said one Weibo user named Revario.
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