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🇫🇷 France /Crime & Justice

A 'sinister' and 'chilling' deception: Goose leg scandal rocks China

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Beijing street vendor, known for selling grilled goose legs, is under investigation for allegedly selling duck meat instead.
  • The vendor, Chen Xiufeng, admitted to using duck meat, which is half the price of goose, after a customer complained.
  • The scandal has sparked widespread public anger in China, with accusations of deception and profiteering.

A popular Beijing street vendor, affectionately known as "Auntie Goose Legs," is at the center of a national scandal after admitting to selling duck meat disguised as goose. Chen Xiufeng, famous for her grilled leg stands, is now under investigation for allegedly misleading consumers.

From now on, I will indicate this clearly for everyone.

— Chen XiufengHer statement on social media after admitting to using duck meat instead of goose.

The controversy erupted when a customer complained about the taste of the meat. Chen Xiufeng subsequently acknowledged on social media that she had been using duck meat, which is significantly cheaper than goose. "From now on, I will indicate this clearly for everyone," she wrote, attempting to address the backlash.

Her admission has ignited a firestorm of public outrage across China, with millions reacting angrily on the social media platform Weibo. Users accused her of "false advertising and enormous profits" and suggested she should face legal consequences. One commenter expressed disbelief at her audacity, stating, "I have never seen anyone so brazen."

False advertising and enormous profits.

— Weibo userAn example of public reaction to the scandal on social media.

Chen Xiufeng, who started as a street vendor over 15 years ago, gained widespread fame in 2023 for the long queues at her stalls near prestigious universities like Tsinghua and Peking. She was even invited to speak at a women's development forum at Peking University in 2024. Critics argue that by selling duck meat, which can cost less than half the price of goose, she deliberately misled customers to maximize profits while cultivating an image of a hardworking, honest vendor.

I have never seen anyone so brazen.

— Weibo userAnother example of public outrage expressed on social media.

Local journalists report that she operates an industrial kitchen in Beijing where her team roasts up to 500 legs daily. Chen explained to state media that she used duck meat due to supply issues with goose meat. "Calling me 'Auntie Duck Legs' didn't sound good, so I decided to stick with 'Auntie Goose Legs,'" she told China Newsweek. She maintains she did not intentionally deceive customers and has ceased sales while cooperating with authorities. The scandal has drawn condemnation from state media, with CCTV calling the deception "sinister" and "chilling."

Calling me 'Auntie Duck Legs' didn't sound good, so I decided to stick with 'Auntie Goose Legs'.

— Chen XiufengExplaining her reasoning for maintaining the "goose legs" branding despite using duck meat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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