Child Vomits After Finding Maggots in Sam's Club Udon Noodles, Longtime Member Disheartened as Product Remains on Sale

A consumer has reported discovering maggots in a package of "Pulmuone Korean Kimchi Fish Cake Udon Noodles" purchased from Sam's Club's Futian store in Shenzhen, causing their child to vomit immediately. The customer, a decade-long Sam's Club member, expressed disappointment with the store's initial response, which included a compensation offer of 400 yuan perceived as dismissive.

Sam's Club Futian store has not provided a clear response to the incident. The product, sold in a five-pack bundle for 79.9 yuan (approximately 15.98 yuan per pack), remains available for sale. Sam's Club national customer service stated that the company takes the matter seriously and has conducted checks on the same pre-packaged product across all stores nationwide, with no abnormalities found so far. Feedback will be recorded and forwarded to relevant departments.

The manufacturer, Beijing Pulmuone Green Food Co., Ltd., indicated that Sam's Club and the customer have reached a settlement. The company is conducting internal checks but emphasized that production involves high-temperature sterilization, with no similar risks identified. A large-scale product recall is not planned.

Industry analysis suggests the maggots likely originated during production, possibly due to insect eggs present in raw materials like wheat flour or fish cakes that survived insufficient sterilization. Questions have also been raised about Sam's Club's supply chain quality control, inspection, and oversight.

Sam's Club has faced repeated food safety controversies. Last July, consumers accused the retailer of hiding ingredient lists and using controversial genetically modified soybean oil. Other complaints include insufficient product weight and selling meat labeled as fresh despite a slaughter date four months prior.

Despite these issues, Sam's Club is expanding rapidly in China, with plans to open 13 new stores in 2026. However, rapid growth has raised concerns about quality control. Complaints on platforms like Black Cat exceed 15,000, citing product quality issues, poor delivery experiences, and unresponsive customer service.

Food industry analyst Zhu Danping notes that Sam's Club's rapid expansion—from 23 stores in early 2019 to over 60 by the end of 2025—has strained its management systems. He warns that existing logistics and supply chains may be inadequate to support such growth, leading to operational challenges.