(Reporters Yang Yi, Yang Gong, and Zhang Yan) Recently, a post titled "KFC Golden Crab Bucket - crab meat on the outside, stinky fish meat inside!" began to go viral online. The post claims that the Golden Crab Bucket is "beautiful on the outside, but rotten within." Reporters discovered today that many consumers in Xi'an expressed disappointment with the Golden Crab Bucket, stating it was "not crab meat, but 'dead fish meat'."
Netizens: KFC Golden Crab Bucket "crab meat on the outside, stinky fish meat inside!"
On February 27, a netizen named "Liángpí" posted on Huashang Forum claiming that KFC's Golden Crab Bucket contained "crab meat on the outside, stinky fish meat inside!" The netizen stated that one day they purchased the new product "Golden Crab Bucket" from KFC. It smelled of rotten fish and shrimp, and while eating it, they found fish bones. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an entire fish skeleton, with clearly visible fish head and tail. From the images uploaded by the netizen, a piece of fish bone could clearly be seen exposed inside the crab shell. Many netizens commented that after eating the Golden Crab Bucket, there was a strong fishy smell, raising serious doubts about the origin of the crab shell.
Xi'an Consumers: Disappointing purchase, definitely not crab meat
On March 1, reporters visited the KFC store on West Street and randomly interviewed several consumers who had purchased the "Golden Crab Bucket." Mr. Zheng said, "The taste is strange; it can't just be crab meat, it's hard to eat, and I won't buy it again." Another consumer, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters, "The advertisement is tempting, but the consumption experience is disappointing. It's hard to describe the taste, but it's certain that it's not crab meat."
Subsequently, reporters purchased a "Golden Crab Bucket," which emitted a pungent odor. Eating it revealed a mixture of fish, crab, and starch, with an average texture. However, no fish bones or spines were detected.
Price discrepancy, definitely mixed with fish meat?
Some netizens also questioned whether the crab meat content in the entire KFC crab bucket should exist, albeit only embedded on the surface to deceive consumers. Most of the material was likely processed fish rather than premium selected crab meat. Netizen "Dà Jiànkè" remarked, "If it were crab meat, it should be expensive, but KFC sells two for 9.5 yuan. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, so its quality is questionable."
Afterward, reporters visited Xi'an Aquatic Products Supermarket on Tan Market Street and learned from several aquatic merchants that the market price for similarly sized hairy crabs generally ranges between 30 to 40 yuan per pound, with each crab costing around 5 to 11 yuan. Compared to KFC's price of 9.5 yuan for two crab buckets, some consumers suggested, "It must contain fish meat; otherwise, it wouldn't be this price."