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Watchdog seeks curbs on luxury zongzi
By Steffie Lu |
May 26, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE local consumers' rights watchdog called yesterday for increased supervision of high-end packs of zongzi sold on the Internet, amid fears they could be used to bribe officials.
An investigation found some online stores selling packs of zongzi - a type of rice snack eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival - for several thousand yuan. The packs, which each contained four or eight zongzi, usually came with other treats such as wine, tea or olive oil. The most expensive pack of zongzi cost 3,398 yuan (US$498) a box and included eight zongzi, a Chinese painting and an organic fruit and vegetable coupon valued at 3,000 yuan, according to the Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection.
"Such luxurious packages are usually sold online rather than at real stores," said Jin Xuefen, an official with the commission.
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the traditional snack is increasingly popular. For example, on tuangouba.com, one of the biggest group-purchase Websites in the country, some of the packs valued at several hundred yuan were already sold out. However, the most expensive were still available. Clients of group-purchase Websites are usually companies rather than individuals. Commission officials said the products, which are also luxuriously packaged, may be used for bribing officials.
In 2007, luxurious packs of moon cakes were banned in the city. However, no similar regulation has yet been made about zongzi.
An investigation found some online stores selling packs of zongzi - a type of rice snack eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival - for several thousand yuan. The packs, which each contained four or eight zongzi, usually came with other treats such as wine, tea or olive oil. The most expensive pack of zongzi cost 3,398 yuan (US$498) a box and included eight zongzi, a Chinese painting and an organic fruit and vegetable coupon valued at 3,000 yuan, according to the Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection.
"Such luxurious packages are usually sold online rather than at real stores," said Jin Xuefen, an official with the commission.
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the traditional snack is increasingly popular. For example, on tuangouba.com, one of the biggest group-purchase Websites in the country, some of the packs valued at several hundred yuan were already sold out. However, the most expensive were still available. Clients of group-purchase Websites are usually companies rather than individuals. Commission officials said the products, which are also luxuriously packaged, may be used for bribing officials.
In 2007, luxurious packs of moon cakes were banned in the city. However, no similar regulation has yet been made about zongzi.
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