Since the beginning of this year, Beijing police have uncovered more than 160 cases endangering food safety.

On October 25, Beijing police announced that they are intensifying efforts to address food safety issues that directly impact the lives of citizens. As part of ongoing initiatives like “Kunlun,” “Clean Winds,” and “Safe City,” the police are committed to combating various criminal activities that threaten food safety. From January to September this year, Beijing police have handled over 160 food safety cases and detained more than 330 suspects, effectively safeguarding the public’s “food safety.”

**Tough Action Against Food Counterfeiting and Fraud**

Beijing police are focused on the pervasive issues of intellectual property infringement and counterfeit food products, prioritizing cases that have direct implications for the public. They have strengthened collaboration with industry groups and brand companies to ensure effective communication and have successfully resolved multiple cases of counterfeit well-known brand foods, thus protecting consumer rights.

In May 2024, responding to public tips, police in Haidian dismantled an entire criminal network involved in producing and selling counterfeit eggs of a renowned brand, leading to the detention of seven individuals.

In July and August of 2024, the Environmental Food, Drug, and Travel Safety Team of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, in conjunction with police from Xicheng and Fengtai, conducted targeted operations against merchants illegally using time-honored Chinese brands to sell food and operate restaurants. These actions resulted in multiple busts of counterfeit Peking duck operations, with ten suspects arrested and four criminal dens shut down.

**“Clean Winds” Campaign Targets Fake Alcohol Production and Sales**

Given the seasonal spikes in alcoholic beverage consumption during holidays like Spring Festival and National Day, Beijing police have launched several rounds of special operations to combat the production and sale of counterfeit liquor. This year alone, they have uncovered 29 cases of counterfeit famous brand liquor, dismantling 35 illegal production sites and applying criminal measures against 55 suspects to effectively deter such crimes.

As part of the national “Clean Winds” initiative, Beijing police are maintaining pressure on the illegal production and sale of so-called “special supply” liquors. Notably, prior to the Mid-Autumn Festival, diligent investigations allowed them to target three criminal gangs involved in counterfeit alcohol production. From August 30 to September 3, police, in collaboration with market regulators, conducted sweep operations across six districts, arresting 15 individuals, dismantling three illegal workshops, and seizing over 3,000 bottles of counterfeit “special supply” liquor along with over 12,000 packaging items.

**Zero Tolerance for Illegal Additives in Health Foods**

With increasing consumer demand for health food, some malefactors have exploited this market by selling products online that are marketed for quick weight loss and health benefits. These items often contain illegal and harmful substances disguised under misleading sales promotions. Beginning in January this year, the Environmental Food, Drug, and Travel Safety Team has launched targeted operations against health foods containing toxic ingredients, working alongside market regulators to address 39 cases related to health food safety, resulting in over 150 arrests.

At the end of 2023, police in Haidian responded to reports about a health coffee product purchased online that caused adverse reactions such as nasal congestion and headaches. Investigations confirmed the presence of harmful substances in this so-called “health coffee.” In January 2024, police conducted operations across eight provinces and cities, leading to criminal measures against 59 suspects.

A spokesperson from the Environmental Food, Drug, and Travel Safety Team expressed that the police will continue to enhance their efforts against food crimes, with a focus on ensuring that the public can eat safely and with peace of mind. They plan to implement joint operations and constant regulatory collaboration with relevant departments to compress the space for illegal activities.

Beijing police advise consumers to purchase food through legitimate channels and to be cautious of items that are suspiciously cheap or from unknown sources. When buying health food, look for the “blue hat” symbol and be wary of exaggerations or guaranteed instant results. Additionally, avoid chasing after so-called “special supply” liquor, as these claims often indicate counterfeit products. If anyone comes across clues related to food-related crimes, they are encouraged to report them promptly by calling 110 or the public reporting hotline at 010-83061992.