Core Viewpoint - The incident involving a counterfeit Antarctic krill oil product has highlighted the branding issues and trust crisis faced by Tong Ren Tang, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine brand [1][3][4]. Group 1: Incident Overview - The Shanghai Consumer Protection Commission conducted tests on 15 popular Antarctic krill oil products, revealing that a product labeled as "Beijing Tong Ren Tang 99% high-purity Antarctic krill oil" had a phospholipid content of 0, indicating potential fraud [1][4]. - The product in question was not directly produced by Beijing Tong Ren Tang but was distributed by its subsidiary, Sichuan Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., with manufacturing outsourced to Anhui Habio Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., exemplifying a typical private label model [3][4]. - Following the investigation, Habio Pharmaceutical admitted to not adding the claimed "Antarctic krill oil" during production, and Sichuan Health Pharmaceutical was urged to conduct a self-examination and issue an apology to consumers [5][9]. Group 2: Brand Trust Crisis - Beijing Tong Ren Tang, with a history dating back to 1669, has faced multiple trust crises due to private label issues, leading to concerns about its brand management and quality control [3][4][7]. - The company has issued statements emphasizing that the problematic product was unauthorized and that it has initiated legal proceedings against the involved parties, attempting to distance itself from the issue [5][6]. - Experts suggest that the brand's response may not fully alleviate public concerns, as consumers may still associate the subsidiary's products with the Tong Ren Tang brand [6][7]. Group 3: Quality Control and Regulatory Issues - The incident has raised questions about the quality control measures in place for private label products, with calls for stricter oversight and a clearer delineation of brand responsibilities [8][9]. - Habio Pharmaceutical has been involved in multiple legal disputes and administrative penalties over the past three years, indicating ongoing compliance issues [9][10]. - Experts recommend that Habio Pharmaceutical establish a comprehensive compliance system and improve its production processes to prevent future incidents [10].
南极磷虾油造假风波:同仁堂贴牌模式再陷信任拷问