Black Cat Complaints Persist as 315 Industry Earthquake Strikes; Youyou Food, Leader in Spicy Pepper Chicken Feet, Faces Scrutiny Over Business Prospects

Blue Whale News, March 15th (Reporter Xu Ganggan) The theme of the 2026 March 15th Consumer Rights Day Gala is “Reassured Consumption, Quality Life.” As food is the foundation of people’s lives, food safety has become a top priority in consumer rights protection. However, the opening segment of this year’s Gala directly focused on a popular snack essential for home and travel—“Pickled Pepper Chicken Feet.”

That evening, CCTV exposed that Sichuan-Chongqing region-based companies Shufu Xiang Food Co., Ltd. and Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd. illegally used industrial hydrogen peroxide (peroxide) to bleach chicken feet. The production environment was filthy and chaotic, with workers openly stating, “We never eat this ourselves.”

This exposure not only revealed a glimpse of industry insider rules but also thrust Youyou Food, known as the “First Stock of Pickled Pepper Phoenix Claws,” into the spotlight of public opinion. Although Youyou Food was not listed among the companies exposed by CCTV, as the only listed company in the industry, its special status as the “First Stock of Pickled Pepper Phoenix Claws” has made it a focal point of market attention.

Frequent Complaints, “First Stock of Pickled Pepper Phoenix Claws” Youyou Food Under Scrutiny

Following the CCTV exposure, reporters found multiple recent complaints against Youyou Food on the Black Cat Complaint Platform. A search for “Youyou Food” revealed a total of 115 complaints, some of which have already been processed.

Among the complaints marked as “In Process,” the focus remains on the chicken feet product.

On March 13, 2026, a consumer complained on Black Cat Platform: “Youyou Food’s pickled pepper phoenix claws contain cockroach legs. Please investigate thoroughly to restore consumer confidence.”

On February 2, 2026, another consumer complained: “Refund due to food safety issues with Youyou chicken feet. I purchased Youyou pickled pepper phoenix claws on the afternoon of February 20, 2026, which had sensory abnormalities (fishy smell, undercooked), suspected not to meet food safety standards. I request a refund of 1,000 yuan based on Article 148 of the Food Safety Law.”

Notably, as of the time of writing, multiple complaints on the Black Cat Platform regarding the involved company remain marked as “Processing,” with no clear resolution publicly disclosed.

The reporter inquired with customer service of Youyou Food’s flagship store as a consumer, who responded that: “No hydrogen peroxide was used during production; all products are strictly made according to national standards.” The reporter also emailed Youyou Food’s Secretary of the Board, but as of press time, no specific reply has been received.

Exposed Regions—Sichuan and Chongqing—Are Key Business Hubs, Nearly Half of Sales

According to the latest financial reports, Youyou Food relies heavily on the pickled pepper phoenix claws category. The 2024 annual report shows that revenue from this product line reached 784.6 million yuan, accounting for 66.36% of total revenue, with main profit of 248.1 million yuan, representing 72.43%. Despite efforts to diversify product lines—including skin crystal, vegetarian products, chicken wings, and others—pickled pepper phoenix claws remain its primary revenue pillar. In the first half of 2025, revenue from poultry products alone reached 659.3 million yuan, making up 85.51% of total revenue.

Financial reports indicate that Youyou Food’s sales are highly concentrated in Southwest and East China regions, which accounted for 45.97% and 26.61% of revenue in 2024, respectively. The companies involved in the CCTV exposure are located in Sichuan and Chongqing, regions that are core markets for pickled pepper phoenix claws and where consumer concern for food safety is most intense.

As of press time, the affected brands such as “Good Daughter-in-Law” pickled pepper phoenix claws are no longer searchable on major e-commerce platforms like JD.com and Taobao. However, other brands like A Pai’s pickled pepper phoenix claws are still available for purchase, indicating that normal sales have not yet been significantly impacted by industry upheaval.

Recently, Youyou Food’s stock price has been declining overall, dropping from around 14.27 yuan in early February 2026 to 11.26 yuan on March 15th, a total decline of about 20%. Its latest market value is approximately 4.816 billion yuan.