Chinese families cool off on pre-made meals for Lunar New Year after scandal

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by He HuifengFebruary 16, 2026 at 08:00 AM

AI Summary

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For the 2026 Lunar New Year, Chinese families are increasingly wary of including pre-made dishes in their reunion dinners. This caution follows a scandal involving a popular influencer and a restaurant chain, raising concerns about food quality and transparency within China's prepared food industry. Consumers, like Ma Shuai, express that while they may consume pre-made meals regularly, they are unwilling to serve them at the important Lunar New Year's Eve dinner. This meal is considered the most important of the year, similar to Christmas dinner, and families prefer to allocate more money to it. The situation has sparked broader questions about trust and regulation within the rapidly expanding pre-made food sector in China.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Henan 50% Ma Shuai 60% Lunar New Year ×380% China ×390%

Keywords

pre-made meals 100% lunar new year 90% reunion dinner 80% food quality 70% food transparency 70% prepared food industry 60% consumer trust 60% food regulation 50% china 50%