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0Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today we are going to talk about a really serious topic—fake milk powder in Zhongmu, Henan. It’s so terrible, you know?
Enceladus: Oh no! Fake milk powder? That sounds really dangerous, especially for babies and old people. How did they find it?
Erinome: Well, the police found it by accident! Last August, they were checking around a small warehouse in the countryside. They smelled a very strong milk smell—too strong, not like normal milk powder. So they checked and found a black workshop there!
Enceladus: Wow, a black workshop? What did they make the fake milk powder with?
Erinome: Oh, it’s so bad! They mixed vegetable fat powder (like milk essence), maltodextrin (starch), and chemical flavors. No real milk at all! Then they put it into fake imported milk powder cans—like “Russian camel milk” or “Mongolian old milk powder”.
Enceladus: Fake imported brands? That’s tricky! How much did it cost to make? And how much did they sell it for?
Erinome: Unbelievable! Each can cost only 2-4 yuan to make, but they sold it for 30-88 yuan on e-commerce platforms and live streams. Oh my, the profit is more than 10 times! So greedy!
Enceladus: That’s crazy! Why would people buy it? Did they lie about the product?
Erinome: Yes! They lied a lot. In live streams, they said it was “sent directly from Heilongjiang port” or “high protein imported milk powder”. They even showed fake customs documents. But the real shipping address was always that warehouse in Zhongmu. So sad, many parents and old people believed them.
Enceladus: Oh no! What’s in the fake milk powder? Is there any nutrition?
Erinome: Almost none! Tests showed protein, fat, calcium—all zero! It’s just carbs and additives. For babies 0-6 months, if they drink it for a long time, they will grow slowly, get rickets from no calcium, or have nerve problems. Old people might get kidney stones from too much calcium carbonate. That’s so harmful!
Enceladus: That’s terrible! How could they do this to babies and old people? Did the police catch them?
Erinome: Yes! The police caught 12 people on the spot. They found so much fake milk powder and materials—enough to fill two trucks! Three main criminals were sent to court and got 15 years in prison. Good, right?
Enceladus: 15 years? That’s strict. But why did this happen? Are there监管 (jiānguǎn—supervision) holes?
Erinome: You’re right. The e-commerce platforms didn’t check the sellers well. Now new rules say platforms must check the sellers’ qualifications, test reports, and tracking info. If they don’t, they will be responsible too. That might help stop the fake sales.
Enceladus: I hope so. But how can we tell real milk powder from fake? I heard some people found their milk powder dissolves fast—like the news said.
Erinome: Oh right! Real milk powder, especially full-fat ones, dissolves slowly. You need to stir it. But the fake ones dissolve very fast because of the maltodextrin. That’s a big sign!
Enceladus: Got it! Any other tips? Like checking the package?
Erinome: Yes! Look at the ingredient list. Real milk powder should have “raw milk” as the first ingredient. If it starts with “maltodextrin” or “vegetable fat powder”, don’t buy it! Also, real imported ones have clear Chinese labels with brand info and test reports. Fake ones might have messy printing or wrong foreign words.
Enceladus: What about the price? If it’s too cheap, is that a problem?
Erinome: Exactly! If a “famous imported milk powder” is 30% cheaper than normal, be careful! The fake ones are often sold at low prices on small e-commerce platforms or WeChat shops. Better buy from big supermarkets or official online stores.
Enceladus: Oh, that makes sense. My neighbor once bought cheap milk powder online… I should tell her to check!
Erinome: Yes, please! This fake milk powder is like “slow poison”. We need to protect our families. Did you know the police said the workshop was so dirty? They used basins to weigh materials, no卫生防护 (wèishēng fánghù—hygiene protection). So gross!
Enceladus: Oh no! That’s so unhygienic. How can people make food in such a place?
Erinome: Greed, I think. They just wanted money, not caring about people’s health. But now, with the new rules and stricter checks, maybe fewer fakes will appear.
Enceladus: I hope监管 (jiānguǎn) gets stronger. And we as consumers need to be careful too—don’t be tricked by “imported” or “cheap” ads.
Erinome: Exactly! Remember: check the dissolve speed, ingredient list, price, and buy from正规渠道 (zhèngguī qúdào—regular channels). If you find something wrong, call 12315 to report.
Enceladus: Right! Food safety is so important for every family. It’s not just the government’s job—we all need to help.
Erinome: Yes! Well, time is almost up. Let’s remind everyone again: be careful with milk powder, protect your babies and old family members.
Enceladus: Okay, that's it for today. Let's talk again next time. Stay safe, everyone!
Erinome: Bye!
