[UPDATED Dec 28, 11.30am] Yesterday, BHG reached out to us to explain what was going on in the photo that our witness supplied, and it seems like a reasonable explanation for what appeared to be staff tampering with vitamin supplements. 

BHG communicated: “This health food was off the shelf a year ago, and on that day our shop assistant cleaned up the stock and got rid of the expired merchandise. Labels were not being removed or changed. Our company takes pride in our reputation of providing the best quality product. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding about how our staff handles expired product. This time our employees cleaned up three different kinds of health food: capsules, protein powder, and enzymes. The capsules were first poured into the box and centralized. Protein powder and enzymes are poured out directly. What he (the concerned witness) could see was that the employees were pouring capsules from bottles into boxes, next the capsules were destroyed.”

Beijingkids has received evidence apparently showing staff from a high-end city supermarket tampering with what appears to be edible food products, supplements, or vitamins.

The picture was taken two weeks ago in the car park of the Shunyi branch of BHG, a Beijing-based supermarket chain, by a local parent who has asked to remain anonymous. He told us:

“As I arrived at the underground parking to get back to my car there were three people dressed in BHG uniforms squatting on the floor opening and repackaging vitamin containers. I stopped for a second and took the photo.”

We have concealed the faces of individual staff members

It’s not possible to tell from the photograph precisely what is taking place. The boxes bear the logo of NBTY, a health supplement company which owns the trademark “Nature’s Bounty”. This would support our source’s claim that the containers held vitamin pills, and the uniforms worn are identical to BHG uniforms. However, on a visit to the store, we were unable to find any products on sale which resembled the containers in the photograph. At least one of the staff members is wearing gloves, but they are operating in clearly unsanitary conditions.

Whatever the purpose of this activity, given the numerous food scandals in China over the last few years, to have staff sitting in a dirty car park, next to the toilet, opening and resealing bottles of substances intended for human consumption, would seem to be a dubious practice at best.

Our source tells us that he emailed BHG’s headquarters about this issue immediately after the incident, but has received no response. We have also approached BHG for comment. There was no answer on their publicly listed number, and we have not yet received any response to our email inquiry. We will update this story as and when we hear from them.

Photos: http://news.everychina.com/wz40d8c0/new_store_opened_bhg_market_place.html, anonymous source

One of the many benefits of living abroad is how easy it is to make friends and the plethora of social events. In my daily life, I get to speak with many mothers. Many have been here longer than me while others have been here just a few weeks. I remember during my first few weeks in Beijing I thought that the supermarket under Kempinski hotel was the only one available to me. Boy was I wrong. There are supermarkets galore! But where to go and how to find them?  Here is a roundup of the supermarkets and food markets that I have found. Peace is found when you know where to go for your weekly shopping. Don’t be fooled though, in Beijing you usually need to go to a few different supermarkets to get everything you need.

Jinkelong Supermarket ~ This supermarket chain is Chinese, and has almost anything you might desire. It helps, also, that it is very cheap. The market activity can be quite a spectacle sometimes with ladies shouting for people to buy their milk and yogurt. The market also has a website and you can order your groceries online, but the site is all in Chinese.

Carrefour Supermarket ~ A great all around supermarket with Chinese and western supplies. Carrefour sells clothes, furniture, and appliances. A great place to get your items when you first arrive and are looking for the essentials, to tide you over. Carrefour has a APP and online store, but delivery is spotty at times.

WalMart Supermarket ~ Has plenty of stores all over town and is stocked with western selections. Though it is a good place to get the basics when starting your life in Beijing, don’t expect the all-American Walmart experience. The have an APP and will deliver.

Wu Mart Supermarket ~ The dingy version of Walmart. The local supermarket were you can get all your daily needs. They have an APP and a website. I have not tried their delivery service.

IKEA ~ My safe haven during the first few crazy weeks in Beijing. They have everything you need and more. I let my child play around in the kids section and then went to the restaurant for a cheap lunch. The little grocery store past the check out counter has good deals on smoked salmon and other western foods. Sign up for a family membership card for more great deals. The children can play in the kids area while you shop as long as they are over four-years old. IKEA delivers and has guys put together the furniture for a small price. These furniture assembly persons work clean and efficiently.

METRO Supermarket ~ A new gem in my supermarket days, this is a wholesale grocery store that sells everything you need. The store is also very clean and calm. You need to create a membership card but this is very easy! Shop over RMB 2000 and get same-day home delivery!

April Gourmet ~ A international supermarket with high prices. While I usually visit this store for certain items like sugar free yogurt, almost all your western grocery supplies can be found here.

Jenny Lou’s ~ While this international supermarket has high prices, Jenny Lou’s also has fresh baked pretzels to make up for it. You can shop till you drop and they will deliver. Be sure to check the expiration dates on goods since sometimes they are expired.

MINISO Store ~ The closest thing I could find to a Pound or Dollar store. Some great prices for daily essentials, office supplies and some small fun kids toys. MINISO stores are opening all over Beijing.

Sanyuanli Market ~ A food market with fruit, vegetables, and international food stalls. Sanyuanli Market is a great place to get some hard to find foods and fresh herbs like rosemary and basil. Find a stall and keep going every week, they will get to know you and be more fair with their prices. I usually get all my nuts and dried fruits here. All the way in the back they sell kitchen wares. There are more food markets over town, find a list here.

BHG Market Place ~ An upscale supermarket where you can find almost everything you need – but for a high price. Stores are clean and neat. This chain store has a good selection of imported foods and great customer service.

• A list of food markets and resources can be found here.
• More supermarkets and addresses can be found here.
• Addresses for Carrefour and Walmart Supermarkets locations can be found here.
• Another helpful list for shopping can be found here.

Pauline van Hasselt has been working for beijingkids since October 2016. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of last year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

I recently came across two butchers in the Shunyi area, both selling just Australian meat. “Beef & Family” sells both beef and lamb and is tucked away on the lower level of Europlaza. They have four meat ranges available – Red Austin Australia Beef, Duke Angus Beef, Ambassador Premium Lamb and Lambier. The prices are similar across all ranges, with a bone-in leg of lamb costing RMB 168/kilogram (kg), shanks RMB 148/kg, rack of lamb RMB 188/kg, burgers RMB 53/500grams and chops RMB 54/500g. You can pick up a couple of rib eyes for RMB 160 and some beef burgers for RMB 85 for 500g. The quality is very good, everything is well frozen and all of the meat comes with a variety of quality standard assurances. More details on these can be found on the website www.ausaia.com

If you’re looking for a different kind of gift for someone, they will put together a gift box of items for you. There is a small selection of red and white wines also available, which can form part of the gift box. On the wall is a chart, detailing every cut of beef and lamb you can think of and how best to cook them. So if you don’t know the mandarin for striploin or brisket, you can just point out what you want instead.

Over on Pinnacle Avenue, you’ll find “100 percent Australian Beef”. They stock a range called Aussie Flavor. Again all the meat is frozen and includes striploin, a variety of angus steaks, shin of beef, topside, silverside and Wagyu roll for RMB 1,089/kg. Not everything is priced, so best to ask before you buy. You can get a Membership Card for RMB 5,000 or 2,000 and when you use the card to pay for your goods, you receive 15 percent or 10 percent off. Only half of their freezers were full, so I’m assuming more products are on their way. They also stock a limited range of BBQ sauces and marinades.

Other options for Australian meat in Shunyi include BHG at Europlaza, which sells some beef cuts and mince. Jenny Lou over at Riviera Plaza was refurbished last year and the biggest improvement was in their butcher and deli section, with greatly improved storage and presentation. They now provide a wide range of local and imported meat, including plenty from Australia. They stock an impressive range of both fresh and frozen products with staff pretty clued-up on what they’re selling. They will mince, chop and de-bone and if you want something special they will try and get it for you.

As BBQ season arrives, it’s great to have this level of choice available in the local area. There’ll be no more trekking down to City Shop for a decent Aussie steak. It’s just a shame the prices aren’t a bit more friendly on the wallet.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos by Sally Wilson