Shuanghui, a household name among consumers, finds itself at the center of another food safety controversy. Recent notifications from the Heilongjiang Provincial Market Supervision Administration reveal that "Pork Hindquarter" produced by Wangkui Shuanghui Beidahuang Food Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shuanghui Beidahuang) failed quality inspections. The tested sample contained lincomycin at a level of 7.70×10³ μg/kg, exceeding the standard limit (≤200 μg/kg) by 37.5 times.
Subsequently, Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd. issued an apology. Company representatives explained that lincomycin is a veterinary drug permitted in the breeding stage and is not a mandatory inspection item during slaughtering and before leaving the factory. The non-compliance was attributed to upstream breeding operations failing to adhere to withdrawal period regulations before sending pigs to market.
The company has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the specific "upstream breeding" entities involved. Furthermore, the supermarket branch from which the non-compliant pork sample was taken was deregistered approximately four months after the inspection. Repeated calls to the store's registered phone number went unanswered.
The Heilongjiang Provincial Market Supervision Administration stated that lincomycin is an antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis. Excessive residues may result from increased drug usage for rapid disease control or failure to observe withdrawal periods during breeding.
According to corporate records, Shuanghui Beidahuang is jointly owned by Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd. (holding 75%) and Heilongjiang Beidahuang Meat Industry Co., Ltd. (holding 25%). Company staff emphasized that lincomycin is not a mandatory test item in their slaughterhouse exit inspections. They noted ongoing risk monitoring for lincomycin in recent years, with no detections until this incident. The issue is reportedly due to non-compliance in the upstream breeding supply chain, while the company asserts strict adherence to slaughtering regulations and quality control procedures.
On May 28, the company announced the formation of a special task force to cooperate with government authorities in a comprehensive investigation at the Wangkui facility. It stated that multiple previous batches from the facility tested negative for lincomycin and pledged to enhance source control, increase testing frequency, and improve traceability management across its slaughterhouses.
The non-compliant pork sample was collected from a branch of Heilongjiang Bilin Youxuan Chain Supermarket, with a production date of August 27, 2025. Business records show this store was located in Daqing City. Notably, it was deregistered on December 11, 2025, with public reviews indicating it had ceased operations.
This is not an isolated incident for Shuanghui. In 2022, prior to the annual Consumer Rights Day, serious hygiene and safety violations were exposed at its subsidiary, Nanchang Shuanghui Food Co., Ltd. Media reports described unsanitary worker uniforms, improper handling of dropped raw materials without cleaning, and non-functional sanitation systems. The company issued an apology and promised corrective actions. However, consumer complaints remain high.
Public complaint platform data shows over 5,100 complaints against Shuanghui, primarily concerning "moldy or spoiled food" and "foreign objects." Consumers also report issues with slow customer service response and unfulfilled compensation promises.
Amidst these food safety risks, the company's financial performance has deteriorated. Revenue peaked at 73.9 billion yuan in 2020 and has since declined for five consecutive years, dropping to 59.5 billion yuan in 2025—a contraction of over 14 billion yuan. Both core business segments are struggling. The slaughtering business, its largest revenue contributor, reported revenue of 29.25 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 3.57%, with a weak gross margin of 4.94%. The meat products segment, the primary profit driver, saw revenue fall 5.09% to 23.527 billion yuan, with a gross margin of 37.05%, as demand for traditional products like ham sausages has significantly waned.
Despite declining revenue and slowing profit growth, the company has maintained a high dividend payout ratio. From 2022 to 2025, the dividend payout ratio remained above 90% for four consecutive years. The majority of these dividends flow to its controlling shareholder, Hong Kong Rotex Co., Ltd., ultimately controlled by the family of the company's founder.
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