AsianFin -- A Mixue Ice Cream & Tea store in Yichang, Hubei Province, was recently exposed for "food safety issues" by Hubei Economic Television Station. Despite the revelations, the affordable and popular bubble tea chain has drawn unexpected support from netizens, many of whom are loyal young consumers.

The report, aired on Friday night ahead of World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, revealed that the Mixue store reused overnight lemon and orange slices in its drinks and operated under unhygienic conditions. Video footage showed flies inside the store and insects on cup lids, while an employee reportedly described reusing leftover fruit as "normal operation," raising serious concerns about hygiene standards.

The investigation also found that workers transferred partially used fruit slices into a stainless-steel container and stored it at room temperature in a corner beyond the surveillance camera's reach to avoid detection.

Store manager Mr. Zou acknowledged the violations, stating that the actions were unauthorized and contrary to company policy. He emphasized that employees are instructed to discard leftover ingredients rather than reuse them. Zou admitted oversight challenges, saying he "cannot monitor operations 24/7," but promised stricter supervision moving forward.

Following the report, the store was placed under investigation, and local market regulators pledged to conduct inspections across similar establishments to prevent future violations.

Despite the scandal, many netizens defended Mixue, citing its affordability and popularity. However, some consumers expressed concern. A college student and former Mixue fan surnamed Tan told Yangcheng Evening News, "I used to think it was fine because it was so cheap, but now I'm scared to drink it after seeing expired ingredients. This is just what has been exposed. What about other issues?"