China's consumer rights gala held on Sunday to mark World Consumer Rights Day exposed the use of hydrogen peroxide to bleach chicken feet, a popular delicacy and snack, to make them appear more appealing to customers.

The 3.15 Gala, an annual show produced by China Central Television focusing on consumer rights protection, revealed that many chicken feet sold on the market are bleached to appear white and plump. To investigate, CCTV reporters visited Sichuan province and Chongqing city, regions where chicken feet sales are especially popular.

Without health certifications, health checks, or sanitation disinfection, the reporters easily entered the Mingyang food production workshop in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, the preliminary processing site for Shufuxiang Food Co's chicken feet products.

Despite the dirty and chaotic environment, the chicken feet leaving the factory were white and enticing, the reporters observed, because the facility conducted a "bleaching" process. Staff admitted to reporters that hydrogen peroxide, a strong oxidizer and disinfectant commonly used for sterilization, was used to bleach the chicken feet.

According to national regulations, hydrogen peroxide is not allowed in chicken feet processing. The chemical can destroy proteins and other nutrients in food, and prolonged consumption may damage oral mucosa, liver, and kidney function. Excessive intake can be life-threatening.

Another reporter, posing as a potential buyer, visited Shufuxiang's workshop. In the frying area, more than a dozen blue plastic barrels were stacked on a cart, each containing about 50 kilograms of an unmarked liquid labeled "Jinshan." A staff member said, "Something has been added, I'm telling you, something has been added, that's why it's so white." Workers also acknowledged they never eat chicken feet soaked in hydrogen peroxide themselves and advised the reporter not to consume them.

CCTV's investigation found that Shufuxiang is not the only company using hydrogen peroxide. At Zengqiao Food Co in Chongqing, a reporter discovered blue barrels labeled with hydrogen peroxide, some with concentrations as high as 35 percent. The chemical was supplied by Jinshan Pharmaceutical Co.

The reporter, working undercover as a frontline worker at Zengqiao, entered the production line without a health certificate, medical examination, or disinfection procedure. Internal personnel confirmed that chicken feet there were also bleached with hydrogen peroxide.

The issue of bleached chicken feet sparked widespread discussion on social media on Sunday, with many expressing outrage and calling for severe punishments for the companies involved.

According to CCTV, reporters submitted the investigation materials to the State Administration for Market Regulation in early March. In response, SAMR, together with other departments, launched a comprehensive crackdown on the illicit food processing industry chain, conducting surprise inspections of Shufuxiang, Mingyang Food, Zengqiao Food, and related upstream enterprises.

At Shufuxiang, enforcement officials seized 27 barrels of hydrogen peroxide, two of which were opened. In two other workshops, several barrels with chicken feet soaking in them were found. Officials also conducted comprehensive sampling of the hydrogen peroxide in soaking water, semifinished, and finished products.

Staff admitted that since May 2025, they had purchased 5,242 barrels of hydrogen peroxide from Jinshan Pharmaceutical for chicken feet processing and equipment disinfection. Meanwhile, Mingyang's workshop was investigated for severe violations of food safety laws and regulations due to its dirty and disorganized production environment.

Enforcement officers also conducted a surprise inspection of Zengqiao Food, seizing four unopened barrels and one opened barrel of hydrogen peroxide. Surveillance footage showed staff repeatedly transporting the chemical within the facility. Sampling confirmed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in soaking water, semifinished, and finished chicken feet products.

The Sichuan Market Supervision Administration said on Sunday evening that a special rectification campaign for food production and processing will be carried out across the province in response to the bleached chicken feet issue.