Three Squirrels controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
Judgment in former manager's supplier kickback case disclosed by media
In 2022, Jiemian News disclosed that Cheng Ye, a former manager at Three Squirrels, solicited kickbacks from suppliers alone or together with others during his employment. The court sentenced him to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of 400,000 yuan for accepting bribes as a non-state functionary. The year in this entry is the year the judgment report was disclosed; the offenses listed are limited to personnel in this case.
2022
Former product manager accepting payments from business entities sentenced to imprisonment with suspension in bribery case
In 2022, China National Radio disclosed that Zhang Xiaoxiang, former manager of Three Squirrels' Product Center, accepted 1.8854 million yuan from business entities and was sentenced by a court to 3 years' imprisonment, suspended for 5 years, and a fine of 50,000 yuan for accepting bribes as a non-state functionary. This entry is recorded separately from cases involving different individuals, such as Cheng Ye's solicitation of kickbacks and Jiang's warehouse bribery.
2021
Old ad model's makeup sparks aesthetic controversy, brand apologizes
In December 2021, a 2019 sour and spicy noodle advertisement by Three Squirrels was questioned by some netizens over the model's makeup allegedly vilifying Chinese people. The brand said it intended to express a guochao style and expressed reflection and apology; the model also publicly responded to criticism related to appearance. This entry is an aesthetic and social media controversy and does not find that the model's appearance itself is at fault.
2021
Distribution warehouse manager sentenced for bribery and embezzling waste carton sales proceeds
Publicly disclosed judgment documents in 2021 showed that former Three Squirrels distribution warehouse manager Jiang accepted property from suppliers and, together with another employee, embezzled waste carton sales proceeds through off-book sales and similar means. The court determined non-state functionary bribery and duty embezzlement respectively. The subjects involved are specific employees and this does not generalize that the company organized bribery.
2021
Specific batch of opened pine nuts exceeds peroxide value and is recalled
In 2021, media reported a market regulation spot-check notice that a batch of 160-gram opened pine nuts packed by Three Squirrels had an excessive peroxide value, and the company apologized and recalled it. The batch's production date was May 23, 2020; the company said it was related to dealer storage and transport. That explanation and the spot-check result are kept separately, and it cannot be inferred that all products were unqualified.
2019
Commercial ad using red scarf image deemed inappropriate and taken offline
In March 2019, a Three Squirrels Brain-boosting Festival commercial used a red scarf image; after receiving a written notice from the National Working Committee of the Chinese Young Pioneers, it took related pages and products offline in April. In 2022, the old advertisement again attracted attention; the company publicly apologized, admitted that pre-launch review had been lax, and announced a comprehensive self-inspection. This entry distinguishes the actual advertising placement time from the later exposure time.
2017
Specific batch of pistachios exceeds mold limit and is recalled
In August 2017, sampling by the China Food and Drug Administration found that a batch of Three Squirrels pistachios failed the mold test, with a measured 70 CFU/g against a standard limit of 25 CFU/g. The company explained that this may have been related to circulation and storage and recalled the products involved. This entry is limited to that sampled batch and does not involve all nuts.