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HEYTEA Claims 11 Times in a Month? Has Food Safety Law Become a Path to Wealth?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Recently, a well-known chain milk tea store received multiple complaint calls within a month... Coincidentally, each customer first expressed finding hair in their takeout milk tea, then immediately demanded ten times compensation. When receiving the first complaint, a woman claiming to be named Ms. Zhang reported finding hair in the takeout milk tea and

A Series of Complaints Against a Famous Milk Tea Chain

Recently, a well-known chain milk tea shop received multiple complaint calls within a month... Coincidentally, each customer first claimed that their takeout milk tea contained hair, and then immediately demanded ten times compensation from the shop.

The First Complaint

When the first complaint was received, a woman claiming to be named Ms. Zhang reported that there was hair in her takeout milk tea and demanded ten times compensation. In the recorded phone call, Ms. Zhang said, "I have made the maximum concession. I won't cause you trouble or create any negative impact. Because once I speak out, it will definitely spread from one to another, and then to more."

Initially, the merchant offered to waive the charge, but Ms. Zhang remained firm, stating, "I also understand the law, that's why I'm following the Food Safety Law with you. Now it's me making demands, not you making demands to me."

Legal Basis and Resolution

Ms. Zhang mentioned in the call that her claim was well-founded, based on the provisions of the Food Safety Law: "For food that does not meet food safety standards, in addition to claiming compensation for losses, consumers can also demand the producer or seller to pay compensation equal to ten times the price of the food."

To avoid affecting the brand image, the shop readily agreed to Ms. Zhang's request, waiving the charge and paying ten times the compensation.

The Second Complaint

However, a few days later, another chain store of the same brand in the same area also received a complaint call. This time, a woman claiming to be named Ms. Wang reported hair in her takeout milk tea and also demanded ten times compensation. This time, the store also compensated according to Ms. Wang's request.

Pattern Recognition

After these two incidents, other chain stores of the same brand in the same area received complaint calls one after another. Within a month, 8 stores received 11 complaints from different customers with different phone numbers but for the same reason, with total compensation amounting to over 11,000 yuan.

As a chain milk tea brand with over 600 stores, the requirements for hygiene are extremely stringent. The fact that multiple complaints about hair in milk tea occurred within such a short period was very unusual, according to various store managers. After comparing the information provided by the stores, it was found that the complainants were all female customers, and the delivery addresses were all in the same residential community (but with different recipients and locations). The decision was made to report to the police.

Police Investigation and Arrest

The police also stated that based on the information provided by the shops, they initially determined it was the same suspect and quickly identified the suspect. They found Ms. Wang, the suspect, at an accounting firm and arrested her for extortion and blackmail. When the police came to her door, Ms. Wang was somewhat caught off guard.

Legal Consequences

The crime of extortion and blackmail is prosecuted based on the amount involved. According to regulations, for a person to be convicted of extortion and blackmail, the amount must be "relatively large," with the threshold starting from 2,000 to 5,000 yuan. Clearly, the total amount Ms. Wang "claimed" exceeded 11,000 yuan, and her behavior already constituted the crime of extortion and blackmail.

Confession and Consequences

According to Ms. Wang's confession, her first claim was indeed because there was hair in the milk tea. However, through communication, she discovered that claiming compensation was so easy. After successfully "claiming" compensation the first and second times, Ms. Wang decided to embark on this "path to wealth." But she didn't expect that her "path to wealth" would constitute the crime of extortion and blackmail, and she expressed that she knew she was wrong...

Current Status and Potential Penalties

Currently, the police have criminally detained Ms. Wang, and the case is under further investigation. If the investigation results are confirmed, according to China's Criminal Law, for extortion and blackmail of public or private property with relatively large amounts or multiple instances, Ms. Wang will face up to three years of fixed-term imprisonment, criminal detention, or public surveillance, and may also be fined or have a fine imposed separately.

Legal Perspective

Business operations must comply with relevant laws and regulations. When problems arise with sold goods, corresponding legal or liability compensation must be borne. However, if the law is used as a tool to make money, one will also be sanctioned by the law.