Group 1 - The core issue revolves around the public dispute between Luo Yonghao and Xibei regarding the accusation of using pre-made dishes in their restaurants, which has escalated into a significant public relations crisis for Xibei [1] - Luo Yonghao's social media campaign against Xibei resulted in a substantial negative sentiment, with only 6% support for Xibei on Douyin, indicating a severe backlash against the brand [1] - The incident is described as Xibei's largest external crisis in its 37-year history, highlighting the potential impact of social media on brand reputation [1][19] Group 2 - The broader context of the food industry is marked by rampant issues related to false advertising and substandard products, particularly in the live-streaming sales sector [10][12] - The live-streaming market has seen a proliferation of influencers engaging in unethical practices, leading to a significant decline in consumer trust and potential harm to public health [10][14] - Regulatory bodies are beginning to take action against these practices, with a recent crackdown resulting in the suspension of over 20,000 live-streaming accounts and the closure of numerous channels [15]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversy surrounding the live-streaming influencer Xinba, who announced his withdrawal from the industry amid allegations of his brand "Cotton Password" sanitary pads containing carcinogenic substances. This marks his fifth announcement of withdrawal, raising questions about his accountability and the broader issues within the live-streaming e-commerce industry [1][5][24]. Group 1: Xinba's Withdrawal and Brand Controversy - Xinba's announcement to exit the live-streaming industry coincides with serious allegations against his brand "Cotton Password," which has been reported to contain high levels of thiourea, classified as a Group 3 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [1][3][4]. - The brand has faced consumer health issues, including gynecological inflammation and thyroid diseases, linked to the use of its products, which were marketed heavily by Xinba [3][4]. - Despite the brand's claims of safety through third-party testing, consumer backlash continues, indicating a significant trust issue that Xinba must address [4][5]. Group 2: Implications for the Live-Streaming Industry - Xinba's situation reflects a larger trend of accountability issues within the live-streaming e-commerce sector, where influencers often evade responsibility for product quality [5][7][24]. - The article highlights the increasing complaints in the live-streaming industry, with a reported 40.2 million complaints in 2024, marking a 19.3% increase from the previous year [10]. - The lack of effective regulation and oversight in the industry has led to a culture where influencers prioritize profit over consumer safety, resulting in a cycle of poor accountability [19][20][22]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics and Consumer Trust - The article emphasizes that the live-streaming e-commerce model is built on trust, and any breach of this trust can have severe repercussions for the industry as a whole [23][25]. - It suggests that the industry needs a shift towards more responsible practices, where influencers, platforms, and consumers all benefit from a transparent and trustworthy environment [25]. - The rise of platforms that prioritize quality and service, such as Dongyu's "Oriental Selection," indicates a potential shift in consumer preferences towards more reliable shopping experiences [25].

Core Viewpoint - The recent report by CCTV Finance on the chaos in the Hetian jade market has sparked widespread attention, revealing issues of counterfeit products and deceptive marketing practices in the industry [1] Group 1: Market Issues - There are widespread quality issues with products, as some unscrupulous merchants use low-quality jade materials to imitate Hetian jade, selling them at high prices [2] - False advertising is prevalent, with many merchants purchasing fake certification to convince consumers of product quality, and some even claiming miraculous health benefits for their jade products [2] - The use of exaggerated scripts by live streamers to attract consumers is common, with instances of staged negotiations between streamers and vendors to create a sense of urgency and authenticity [2] Group 2: Consumer Vulnerability - Consumers often struggle to identify inferior products and are misled by fictitious endorsements from supposed authoritative institutions, leading to a high likelihood of deception [3] - The immersive experience provided by live streaming can lead to impulsive buying, particularly among older consumers who may lack online shopping experience and are more susceptible to false claims [3] Group 3: Regulatory Challenges - Platforms typically conduct regular oversight and may impose strict measures against high return and complaint rates, but many merchants simply rebrand to evade penalties [3] - There are concerns about the potential conflict of interest between merchants and platforms, as some merchants invest heavily in purchasing traffic, which may compromise the effectiveness of platform regulation [3] Group 4: Broader Implications - The issues observed in the Hetian jade market are not isolated, as similar problems exist across various industries and live streaming platforms [4] - The media exposure of these issues calls for a collective effort from multiple regulatory bodies to standardize merchant behavior and address the root causes of such chaos [4]

Core Viewpoint - The rapid development of live e-commerce has led to the promotion of ordinary food products as "health miracle drugs," with hosts using carefully crafted scripts to induce viewers to make purchases [1][6][18] Group 1: Misleading Product Claims - Many products, such as a tea claimed to be from Beijing Tongrentang, are marketed with exaggerated health benefits like "lowering blood pressure" and "improving stroke paralysis," despite containing spelling errors on their packaging [1][10] - A product marketed as γ-aminobutyric acid collagen peptide drink is promoted with claims of containing "4 major amino acids + 13 nutrients" and having growth-enhancing effects, while its actual standard is that of a beverage, not a health supplement [6][7] - The promotion of products like "shark cartilage calcium tablets" and "glucosamine chondroitin" as traditional medicinal materials is misleading, as they are merely pressed candy [1][12] Group 2: Regulatory Challenges - Despite ongoing improvements in management measures for live e-commerce, many continue to blur the lines in the "three products and one device" (medicines, medical devices, health foods, and special medical purpose formula foods) sector, making it difficult for consumers to identify exaggerated claims [2][19] - Regulatory authorities face challenges in taking action against misleading claims due to a lack of medical knowledge, which hampers their ability to intervene effectively [2][19] Group 3: Legal Consequences - A case in Anhui Province involved a company that falsely marketed a health product, resulting in a sales amount exceeding 30 million yuan, leading to significant prison sentences for the perpetrators [13][16] - The market supervision department reported a significant increase in complaints related to live e-commerce, with 402,000 complaints received in 2024, marking a 19.3% year-on-year increase [12] Group 4: Industry Insights - Analysts highlight that the most significant issues in the live e-commerce sector include false advertising, the strong concealment of misleading claims, and the lack of substantial penalties for violations, which fails to deter those attempting to exploit loopholes [18][19] - Recommendations for industry governance include requiring that only qualified professionals and institutions engage in live e-commerce for health-related products, with strict penalties for violations [19]

Group 1 - The State Administration for Market Regulation has initiated a nationwide campaign to address false advertising in the pharmaceutical and health product sectors targeting the elderly, aiming to combat fraudulent practices that exploit this demographic [1][2] - Local market regulation departments will focus on illegal activities such as false advertising, price fraud, and illegal additives that infringe on the rights of the elderly and disrupt market competition [2] - The campaign includes a "You Shoot, We Check" initiative, encouraging the public to report suspected illegal activities, thereby enhancing the protection of elderly consumers and improving the market environment [2] Group 2 - Investigations have revealed that some live-streaming influencers engage in deceptive practices, using dramatic scripts to attract viewers and promote products that do not have legitimate health benefits [2][3] - Concerns have been raised about the sale of counterfeit health products and medications through live streams, which could lead to health risks for elderly consumers [3] - Legal experts have indicated that selling unregulated or counterfeit products during live streams could result in severe legal consequences, including charges related to fraud and violations of consumer protection laws [3]