China's Nayuki says gets clean chit on food safety after regulatory checks

Nayuki Holdings

04/08/2021 05:16

BEIJING, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Chinese teahouse company Nayuki
Holdings  2150.HK  said on Wednesday inspections by regulators
of its stores had unearthed no food safety violations as
described in a Xinhua report and that it was not fined or
penalised.
    Nayuki, which sells drinks such as fruit teas topped with
cheese foam, became the latest company to attract the attention
of regulators in China following state media reports.   
    State news agency Xinhua reported on Monday that some of
Nayuki's stores had cockroaches and staff there used rotten
fruit to make drinks. It listed two Nayuki stores in Beijing as
guilty of the violations.
    Following the report, the southern province of Guangdong
said in a statement on Tuesday it held talks with Nayuki on the
matter.
    Nayuki said in a statement on Wednesday regulatory officials
from different cities had made hygiene checks on 186 of its
total 603 teahouses across China but found no issues as
described by the Xinhua report.
    The chain also said it had not been subject to any fines or
penalties by regulators. It added that it has set up a task
force to investigate food safety issues and that the two Beijing
teahouses listed in the media report have suspended operations
to facilitate the investigation.  
    Sweeping moves by Chinese regulators against the property,
education and technology sectors in recent months have spooked
investors globally and raised concerns that other industries
could be vulnerable. 
    On Tuesday, Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings
 0700.HK  saw $60 billion wiped off its market value in early
trade after a state media article described online games as
"spiritual opium" and re-ignited investor fears about state
intervention.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2PA03U
($1 = 6.4628 Chinese yuan renminbi)

 (Reporting by Sophie Yu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Muralikumar
Anantharaman)
 ((Sophie.Yu@thomsonreuters.com; 861056692136;))