On February 26, 2024, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued a notice announcing the cancellation of registration for JERRY&SONS PHARMACEUTICAL INC, a U.S. beverage manufacturer.
As revealed by the notice, the company was found to have provided false materials during the registration process. GACC also stated that there have been no customs declaration records for products from this company. In light of this, consumers are strongly advised against purchasing any beverages from this company, including TiQ Prune Juice, a popular beverage in the Chinese market. Those who have already purchased these products are urged to stop consuming them and contact the original supplier for return procedures.
The Dispute Around TiQ Prune Juice
The sales of TiQ Prune Juice have been performing well on China's livestream e-commerce channels. Previously, several top e-commerce live streamers had promoted this juice.
The revocation comes after a whistleblower reported that the juice had been found to contain laxative ingredients, including sennoside A, sennoside B, and sorbic acid. According to the test results showed by the whistleblower, the juice contained 50.2mg/L of sennoside A, 62.1mg/L of sennoside B, and 0.238g/kg of sorbic acid. Sennoside A and sennoside B are known laxatives, whose use can lead to symptoms from diarrhea to dehydration, and prolonged use can lead to constipation and dependence. Therefore, they are prohibited from being used in food products. While for sorbic acid, GB 2760 Standard for Uses of Food Additives allows its use in juice but with a maximum level of 2g/kg.
Nevertheless, TiQ, the brand behind the product, claimed that it had not contained any laxative ingredients and marketed it as a solution for constipation. However, some consumers complained experiencing severe stomach pain and inability to defecate after consuming the product. Currently TiQ's official accounts on various social media platforms no longer display any products for sale.
Under the circumstance that JERRY&SONS PHARMACEUTICAL INC provided false materials during the registration process, why have been these products sold on livestream e-commerce channels for such a long time? Ni Shu, an e-commerce expert, highlighted the importance of compliance during the product selection process for online influencers. He mentioned that in this case, the brand deliberately deceived consumers by manipulating the ingredient list which violated national regulations, which had led to the crackdown of the competent authority.
Summary and suggestions
This GACC's revocation serves as a stern warning to enterprises, consumers and authorities. For enterprises, food safety and regulatory compliance should always be the priorities in food businesses. Any intended deceiving moves will incur great losses. For consumers, the presence of laxative ingredients in TiQ Prune Juice underscores the need for vigilance when purchasing and consuming food and beverages. Authorities should always verify the credibility and compliance of products to prevent the circulation of potentially harmful products.
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