2026 CCTV "3·15" Gala: Influencer Chicken Feet, Miracle Drug Exosomes, Height-Increasing Institutions, Private Domain Marketing, E-Bike Rentals, "Poisoned" AI Large Models, and Stock Recommendation Revenue-Sharing Institutions Called Out

2026 CCTV “3.15” Evening Gala airs tonight, themed “Trust in Consumption, Quality Life,” focusing on illegal activities that infringe on consumer rights in areas such as food safety, public safety, financial security, and advertising markets.

1. Bleached Chicken Feet: Viral Chicken Feet Production Workshops Are Disgusting

Most chicken feet sold in the market are bright white and meaty, tempting to eat, but one detail drew high attention from reporters: the price of chicken feet. A 500-gram portion often sells for as low as 15 yuan. Behind the viral chicken feet products, are they really as clean and trustworthy as their appearance suggests? With this doubt, reporters from the 3.15 Gala investigated chicken feet sales in Sichuan and Chongqing. Without health certificates, health checks, or sanitation procedures, they easily entered Mingyang Food Production Workshop in Chengdu, where chicken feet are pre-processed for Shufu Xiang Food Co., Ltd. On-site, the smell of soaking, trimming, and selection areas was overwhelming, with a nauseating fishy odor. The environment was filthy: the floor was long-term stained with murky wastewater, plastic baskets were haphazardly piled, and machinery surfaces were covered with grime and grease. Large quantities of chicken feet were directly piled on damp, dirty floors, with cleaning tools like brooms and shovels casually placed on top. Workers stepped on the chicken feet but simply picked them up and returned them to the processing baskets, ignoring hygiene standards.

Further investigation revealed a key fact—despite the dirty environment, the final chicken feet looked bright and appealing because the factory used a crucial “bleaching” process. Staff admitted: “It’s bleached with hydrogen peroxide.” Hydrogen peroxide, known scientifically as peroxide, is a strong oxidizer and disinfectant used for sterilization. According to national regulations, hydrogen peroxide is not allowed in chicken foot processing because it destroys nutrients like proteins. Long-term consumption of foods soaked in it can damage oral mucosa, liver, and kidney functions, and excessive intake can be life-threatening.

Under the guise of ordering, reporters entered the factory of Shufu Xiang Food Co., Ltd. and saw many unmarked containers in the frying area. Over a dozen blue plastic barrels, each about 50 jin of liquid, were stacked on carts, with only “Jinshan” printed on them, lacking any product or manufacturer info. An employee said, “We added something; that’s why it’s so white.” Workers admitted they never eat chicken feet soaked in hydrogen peroxide and advised reporters not to eat it, clearly aware of the toxicity. The investigation found that this was not an isolated case. At Chongqing Zengqiao Food Co., Ltd., similar blue barrels labeled with peroxide (hydrogen peroxide, 35% concentration) from Jinshan Pharmaceutical in Meishan were also used. As a regular worker, the reporter was hired without health certificates, health checks, or sanitation, and easily entered production. Internal sources confirmed that chicken feet here were bleached with hydrogen peroxide.

The 3.15 Gala exposed bleached chicken feet. After collecting evidence, in early March, the reporters submitted their findings to the State Administration for Market Regulation. The agency quickly organized multiple departments to analyze the clues and recently launched a comprehensive crackdown on the illegal food processing chain, targeting Shufu Xiang, Mingyang Food, Zengqiao Food, and upstream suppliers.

Enforcement first targeted Shufu Xiang. On-site, regulators seized 27 barrels of hydrogen peroxide, two of which were opened, and multiple barrels of soaking chicken feet were found in workshops 4 and 5. Samples of hydrogen peroxide, soaking water, semi-finished, and finished products were collected. On the spot, 232 boxes of Sichuan pepper chicken feet and 319 boxes of spicy chicken feet were sealed due to quality issues.

At the scene, company personnel admitted that since May 2025, they purchased hydrogen peroxide from Jinshan Pharmaceutical for chicken foot processing and equipment disinfection, totaling over 5,242 barrels. Mingyang Food was also under investigation for severe violations of food safety laws due to poor environment. Jinshan Pharmaceutical and Yifeng Electronic New Materials were also penalized for illegal supply of unlabeled food additives and violations of hazardous chemical regulations.

Meanwhile, another enforcement team inspected Zengqiao Food. They found four unopened barrels of hydrogen peroxide and one opened barrel, which was sealed on-site. Multiple barrels of chicken feet and chicken bones soaked in solution were observed, with bubbling liquids. Surveillance footage showed workers repeatedly handling hydrogen peroxide in the factory. Sampling confirmed the presence of hydrogen peroxide in soaking water, semi-finished, and finished products.

2. Fake Miracle Drug: Viral Exosome Products Are All Unapproved, No-Name Products

“Exosomes have been very popular in recent years, especially in anti-aging,” a recent product introduction in the medical beauty market. Reporters learned from multiple medical publications and industry insiders that the so-called “miraculous” exosomes promoted by influencers are biologically active substances secreted during stem cell cultivation. However, their mechanisms, clinical testing, and other medical procedures are not yet clear, remaining mostly in academic and theoretical research stages. In June 2025, the National Medical Products Administration issued a draft seeking opinions, proposing to regulate exosomes with therapeutic functions and active ingredients as drugs. But this was only a draft for consultation, aiming to control such substances from being misused or misrepresented. Currently, no exosome drug has been approved for market sale in China.

To clarify the situation, the 3.15 Gala found a product called “Qingcheng” on the market, produced by Haolin (Tianjin) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Staff said their product’s main component was “exosomes,” but they used a collagen license to evade regulation. This fake licensing, illegal addition, and illegal sales are just part of the problem. Some companies also falsely advertise their exosome products as anti-aging and even as cures for various diseases. In a southwestern city, Jieposai’er Biotechnology’s boss, Tan, openly told reporters they used exosomes to treat diseases. Tan claimed that epilepsy, arthritis, and diabetes could be solved by injecting exosomes. When the reporter expressed skepticism, Tan took out a frozen “medical-grade” exosome solution, which had no product info and was clearly a “no-name” product. Disguised as “technical services,” these products entered the market. Tan also said they lacked medical qualifications, so injections were done through medical institutions, a practice called “borrowing a platform.” These so-called exosomes, without approval, clinical trials, or efficacy data, are packaged as “panacea” drugs and injected into patients, with high profits. Tan detailed: “First dose 150 billion particles, second 200 billion, third 250 billion, totaling 600 billion particles, costing 60,000 yuan.” Meanwhile, online complaints about “exosome anti-aging” flooded in: “I had exosome treatment and got facial infections, severe acne,” “I was injected and had allergic reactions, my face was ruined for three months,” “Almost no effect, just a scam.”

3. Exposing Height Increase Scams: Quack Institutions Use Mysticism to Rake in Money

“Increase your child’s height by 3 to 8 centimeters easily, full refund if ineffective.” This is a common promotional claim on various online platforms. Many businesses claim they can install “accelerators” in children’s bones. But while this business booms, the 3.15 Gala received multiple complaints from consumers claiming they were scammed. Are these so-called “physical height increase” services high-tech or just scams? The reporter visited a chain called “Anlishen Youth Physical Height Increase” based on store names found online. Many branches promise contract guarantees and full refunds if ineffective. But do they really refund? Can they physically increase height? To find out, the reporter posed as a franchisee and visited the headquarters. The staff admitted: “Children will grow naturally anyway, even if they don’t come here, they’ll still grow. We just don’t tell parents that.”

Not only is Anlishen deceiving consumers, but another nationwide chain, Dejiru Youth Physical Height Increase, offers similar services with the same pricing and refund promises. These companies target teenagers with fraud, and at Dejiru’s stores, staff told the reporter that even adults with closed growth plates could be “heightened.” Dejiru’s boss admitted: “For adults, it’s just straightening the bones, not making new ones grow.” Despite knowing that once growth plates close, natural height increase is impossible, another company, Yingruike, claims to defy science with “closed growth” heightening. Yingruike’s boss said they can do physiological and psychological interventions, even mysticism, as long as parents pay. When asked about scientific basis, he admitted lacking medical data or clinical validation, just wanting to make money.

Before the investigation ended, these stores kept expanding. Dejiru now has over 70 branches across more than ten provinces; Anlishen has over 60; Yingruike has over 30. Relying on sales pitches and false claims of “high-tech” and “patented techniques,” these height-increasing scams deceive consumers and profit heavily.

4. Exposing Private Domain Marketing: 5x Profits by Targeting Elderly with “Dark” Tactics

In late January 2026, the reporter attended an internal industry exchange on private domain marketing in a city in Central China. Several representatives from “online video production” companies spoke about seeking partners. These companies buy selected products from pharmaceutical or health supplement firms at low prices, then produce health lectures and videos, selling them to private domain marketing firms. These firms guide consumers to social media private groups, play courses, and promote products.

The cost of these “product selection” videos is low, but the selling price is high. A common health supplement was exaggerated or altered in function and sold at nearly five times market price. To uncover the truth, the reporter visited “Dahong International,” where Liu, the manager, first mentioned the 3.15 Gala.

“You’re planning to do this after the 3.15, right? Our private channel is in a gray area.”

Liu explained that their business involves making fake courses and selling high-priced drugs to deceive the elderly, and they are now operating discreetly. “Everyone is worried about the 3.15 social group exposing us.” The production of these videos is handled by Shengwei Cultural Media in Northeast China. Manager Zhong said the key to whether a video can sell is the “medical experts” featured, who are mostly paid actors with fake titles like “National Medical Doctor,” “Society President,” or “Expert Committee Member.” The reporter contacted some of these so-called experts, who were very cautious and refused to meet.

Fake expert: “We better wait until after 3.15, okay? Or we can contact again in early March, and after 3.15, decide whether to record the program or not, because we really dare not do it now.”

5. Exposing the Rental E-Bike Boom: Name-Calling Hailo for Violating New National Standards

“Speed can reach 40 to 50, even 60 km/h.” The latest national safety standards for electric bicycles, implemented in 2025, clearly state: maximum design speed should not exceed 25 km/h; battery voltage should not exceed 48V; motor output power should be less than or equal to 400W. Data from the Ministry of Public Security’s Road Traffic Safety Center shows that accidents caused by electric bikes account for about 10% of urban road traffic accidents, mainly due to illegal speed limit removal and speeding. In live streams, e-commerce hosts openly promote their non-compliant electric bikes, claiming they can go much faster. At a rental shop, the reporter experienced a speed of up to 80 km/h.

The investigation found that not only individual local rental shops but also well-known chains violate standards. Hailo, a leading brand with over 5,000 stores in more than 100 cities nationwide, was visited. Staff claimed their bikes could reach 75 km/h. The reporter contacted M, the provincial manager of Hailo, who revealed that before the new standards, some dealers used fake certificates to register bikes, then had manufacturers produce bikes according to old standards, which could bypass speed restrictions. Another company, DiLv Ge, directly supplies electric motorcycles with license plates stolen from bikes, with prices very low.

6. AI “Toxic Poisoning”? Brainwashing AI Has Become an Industry Chain

According to industry insiders, the reporter found a service called GEO on various online platforms. Service providers claim that for a fee, they can make a client’s product rank highly in major AI models, making ads appear as “standard answers.” Can GEO really “poison” or “tame” AI? The reporter contacted a well-known GEO provider, Mr. Wang, who said they have served over 200 clients across industries in just a year. Their strength is helping clients rank at the top when consumers search using AI models.

Mr. Wang explained: “We can get results like this. We can rank in the top three on any platform. How? We produce content for you, like soft articles, and have AI platforms crawl and record them.” He also said that because AI algorithms update weekly, they need to continuously feed relevant promotional soft articles to maintain rankings. Other GEO providers also promote similar methods, claiming they can manipulate AI and “brainwash” it.

7. Stock Picking Scams: Fake Recommendations and Profit-Sharing Schemes Exposed

At the start of 2026, the 3.15 Gala received many tips about a stock investment scam called “stock recommendation with profit sharing,” attracting many investors. Industry insiders warn that many such “profit-sharing” stock advisory services are scams run by criminals impersonating legitimate financial firms. If stocks profit, scammers take a cut; if they fall, they disappear, using “covering losses” as bait.

The reporter contacted several such organizations, including one claiming to be “Tianshun Investment.” Following their advice, the reporter bought 2,000 shares at 18.82 yuan each. But over two weeks, the stock kept falling, and the reporter had to sell at an 8% loss. During a video call with customer service, the reporter noticed the wall behind the agent displayed “Xinbenke Information Consulting.” It turned out this company was in Zunyi, with no financial qualifications, hiring telemarketers. The reporter then applied for a tele-sales position there.

The company’s manager explained: “We call potential investors daily, using prepared scripts, to find those interested and with funds to buy specific stocks. We tell them risk is controlled first, profit second. Our stocks are researched with multiple institutions, not random picks.” But the boss doesn’t care if clients lose money. When asked what happens if clients lose, he said simply: “Just forget it.” The “recommended stocks” are actually chosen by the boss, who uses clients’ funds to trade, promising profit sharing. Profitable stocks make money, losses disappear, creating a “risk-free” scam.

Source: CCTV Finance

Editor: Di Haizhou

Chief Editor: Lu Weimin

【Source: Love Jinan】