An interesting detail is that on April 14, when a reporter bought popcorn at the cinema, they hoped to understand whether the bucket was safe and requested an inspection. However, the cinema staff refused with various excuses and said, "Are you here to buy popcorn or to check my bucket?"
The reporter found in many cinemas that the buckets used to package popcorn were of mixed quality, selling both qualified and unqualified packaged popcorn together. "This is very likely to应付 inspections," Dong Jishi analyzed, believing that what is sold to consumers might be cheap, unqualified packaged popcorn, while qualified packaging is presented during inspections.
Supermarket "exploding buckets" also have safety hazards.
"The root cause lies in the insufficient supervision by local quality supervision and industrial & commercial departments," Dong Jishi believed that the quality supervision department should take the initiative, not wait until there's a problem with the product before investigating. Companies using unqualified raw materials for production should face heavier penalties. Secondly, the industrial & commercial department should strengthen supervision and not be lenient towards dealers selling unqualified products.
Reported by this newspaper’s Hu Xiaohong.
"It's very clear that although these products have obtained QS production permits, their products may have serious hidden dangers," Dong Jishi said.
The main popcorn sold by the cinema comes in three sizes: large (130oz), medium (85oz), and small (46oz). In appearance, it resembles the buckets from "Beijing Zhongju Cheng International Trading Co., Ltd.", but later under UV analysis, all bucket samples showed a bright, glaring blue, indicating the use of social white cardboard containing fluorescent whitening agents. The reporter noticed that the bottom of the buckets used by the cinema had the marking "QS33-10202-00050". After checking through the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine website, it was found that the product was produced by Taizhou Luqiao Navy Plastic Co., Ltd.
At Carrefour supermarket, a bucket of popcorn weighing 90 grams was priced at 4.9 yuan. A 46oz bucket of popcorn purchased from Star Me Internationl Cinema, measured by an electronic balance, showed that the bucket weighed 16.22g, and the total weight of the popcorn (including the bucket) was 118.97g, yet its price was set at 19 yuan.
During interviews, it was learned that a seemingly inconspicuous bucket of popcorn can sell for 15-30 yuan. A person in charge of a food packaging company revealed to the reporter that the actual cost of these packaged popcorns is very low.
Popcorn bucket inner side
>> Investigation
Fluorescent whitening agent
"When detecting whether food packaging paper contains fluorescent whitening agents, UV analyzers are generally used," the above person informed the reporter. Packaging made from "social white cardboard" will show a bright, glaring blue under a UV analyzer, whereas packaging made from "food-grade white cardboard" will present a natural milky white under a UV analyzer.
>> Link
Mainly two colors
The reporter visited several cinemas including Beijing Jiahe, Huaxing, Star Me, Wanda, and Dongdu, purchasing popcorn of different specifications and sizes. From a color perspective, these popcorn buckets can basically be divided into two categories: some popcorn buckets have an inner side that looks whiter and brighter, while others appear naturally milky white.
Yesterday's investigation found that the quality of popcorn buckets sold in major supermarkets also varies.
At the fifth floor of the Jinyuan Times Shopping Center's Star Me International Cinema (Jinyuan Store), the reporter found that the problems in this cinema were relatively serious.
It was also understood that some theaters' box office revenue only accounts for about 60% of the total revenue, with the remaining 40% relying on the sale of popcorn, drinks, ice cream, and other ancillary products.
When the reporter purchased popcorn at Beijing Jiahe Waliu Cinema located on the fifth floor of Hualian Waliu Shopping Center at No. 2 Bagou Road, Haidian District, it was found that large popcorn (85oz) used a paper box without QS production permit information or manufacturer details. After contacting Dong Jishi, Secretary-General of the International Food Packaging Association and a well-known food packaging counterfeit expert, and examining the popcorn bucket under a UV analyzer, it was found that the 85oz paper box appeared blue under the UV analyzer. Dong Jishi stated that this proves the bucket definitely contains fluorescent whitening agents. The medium-sized popcorn bucket (64oz) sold by the cinema, however, appeared milky white (see comparison picture), with "Beijing Zhongju Cheng International Trading Co., Ltd." marked on the bottom.
Interviews and investigations also found that the popcorn buckets at UME Huaxing International Cinema Huaxing Store and Wanda Cinema Shijingshan Store appeared milky white under UV lights.
Government departments should increase regulatory efforts.
Unqualified "popcorn buckets" cost 20% less.
>> Expert suggestion
While watching a movie and enjoying popcorn purchased from the cinema seems normal, it unknowingly carries health and safety risks. Recently, market investigations found that the usage of popcorn buckets in multiple cinemas in the city is inconsistent. Most cinema popcorn buckets lack basic information such as production date, manufacturer, and QS certification. Moreover, some packaging uses non-food grade paper containing fluorescent whitening agents, severely harming health.
"This kind of bucket that appears bright white is likely due to the addition of large amounts of fluorescent whitening agents," an authoritative insider told the reporter. The material used to make popcorn buckets must be "food-grade white cardboard," and the state requires no waste paper or fluorescent whitening agents. However, some manufacturers lower costs by using recycled waste paper, which doesn't meet quality standards, so they add large amounts of fluorescent whitening agents to make the cups appear whiter.
Since 2009, China has implemented a market access system for food paper packaging, containers, tools, etc. However, why are unlicensed paper buckets still so popular after two years of enforcement?
A fluorescent dye that can enhance the whiteness of fiber fabrics and paper. Once fluorescent substances enter the human body, they can cause harm. If the dose reaches a certain level, it may cause cell mutation and become a potential carcinogenic factor.
>> Experiment
>> Visit
Qualified and unqualified products are mixed.
At the Leshop Supermarket (Happy Valley Store) directly opposite the east gate of Happy Valley Park, the reporter found a popcorn bucket similar in shape to those sold in cinemas, marked with "Zhongju Cheng International Trading Co., Ltd." and priced at 5 yuan. However, the bucket was very soft. Additionally, the bucket was marked with the production license identifier "QS42-10202-00365." After checking through the General Administration of Quality Supervision website, it was found that the production license number belonged to Wuhan Jiang'an Yong'an Paper Products Processing Plant. When tested under a UV analyzer, the bucket emitted a blue light.
The aforementioned industry insider also revealed that the price of unqualified packaging products is on average 20% cheaper than qualified products.
Products with QS production licenses also emit blue light.
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Request for prosecution