Chagee shuts China outlet after viral video shows drinks made with bare hands

The footage, which spread widely on Chinese social media platform Douyin on Jan. 5, showed the worker squeezing lemon slices by hand, placing them directly into cups, pouring tea over her hand, and stirring the drinks without gloves. The original video was later taken down, Mothership reported.

Online reaction was swift, with many viewers questioning the milk tea chain's food safety standards. A day later, Chagee issued an official statement on its Weibo account, saying it had launched an internal investigation into the incident.

According to the company, the video was filmed at its Baolong City Square outlet in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. Chagee said the footage was a staged shoot carried out by a store employee attempting to capitalize on a viral trend of making "Indian-style milk tea" to attract customers, CNA reported.

A still from a video showing a person using their bare hands to make a drink. Photo obtained by VnExpress

The company stressed that the ingredients used in the video were discarded items and that none of the drinks were sold. Surveillance footage showed the beverages were disposed of immediately after filming, followed by routine cleaning and disinfection.

Chagee added that the employee later claimed the video was recorded after business hours in an attempt to cover up her actions. Even so, the company said the behavior violated internal regulations and employee conduct guidelines.

"We are shocked and outraged by this," Chagee said in its statement, adding that the actions ran counter to its commitment to food safety and honest business practices.

The company said the outlet involved will remain closed indefinitely for rectification until it passes a stringent inspection. The employee has been dismissed, while the outlet manager and regional supervisor will be demoted. Chagee also emphasized that its stores normally rely on automated equipment designed to minimize direct human contact with ingredients.