With the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the highly sought after Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs are now on sale. However, some sellers have been caught tying ropes to the crabs to increase their weight. According to a vendor, a 5-tael (1 tael equals 50 grams) crab is being tied with a tael of rope, which accounts for 20% of the total weight.
Between September and December each year, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday in China, it is considered the best time to enjoy Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs. As the crabs are currently in high demand, some vendors are resorting to bundling them up tightly to add extra weight.
A video published on October 5th by the Zhejiang Radio and Television Group’s official China Blue News account showed a female seller at the market saying, “A 5-tael crab can be bundled with a tael of rope, which costs around seventy to eighty yuan. The crabs sold in supermarkets are either pre-bundled or kept in water, both claiming to be of excellent quality.”
According to a report by the Chinese Da Wei “Cheng Ge Looks at the World” on October 5th, a veteran crab farmer named Lao Zhang revealed, “The current trend is three-layer binding technique, where the crab legs are wrapped in water-absorbent non-woven fabric, then covered with thick cotton ropes, and finally enclosed in a plastic bag to increase weight. Some merchants even apply borax to ropes to add weight, as this chemical, when in contact with water, can increase the weight of the rope by 15%. During a surprise inspection by market supervision authorities, they also found “alloy ropes” with mini lead blocks attached to them.
Consumers are now starting to carry portable scales with them to demand “net weight crab transactions” on-site. A viral challenge on TikTok, using the hashtag #UntieTheCrabChallenge#, has garnered over a hundred million views. Users shared comparison images showing that a “Six-Tael Crab King” reduced to only four taels and eight (after untying), with the binding rope thicker than the crab claws. A supermarket in Suzhou was forced to establish a “Naked Weighing Counter,” which revealed that crabs with ropes were priced 40 yuan higher per kilogram compared to those without ropes.
In response to consumer dissatisfaction, the Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crab Association swiftly introduced a new regulation stipulating that the weight of the rope shouldn’t exceed 5% of the crab’s total weight.
The news spread quickly and ignited heated discussions online. Many people expressed their discontent, urging others to avoid purchasing crabs from such vendors. Some netizens revealed that such practices have been ongoing for many years.
One netizen, “maidenhead_” shared that it’s not only hairy crabs but also meat sellers who often engage in deceptive practices: “It’s not just with the crabs; meat stalls are also common culprits. If you see a cutting board with a barrier while buying meat, be cautious when they assist with cutting, as the seller might be mixing in yesterday’s or the day-before’s unsold meat with an unpleasant odor. The barrier plays a significant role, especially when purchasing ribs, which are more susceptible to adulteration.”
“Cheng Ge Looks at the World” believes that this battle over a few taels of rope ultimately reflects consumers’ ultimate demand for business integrity.