The gala aired on the night of March 15th by the state broadcaster CCTV was an annual consumer-rights themed get together, which unveiled high-profile brands manipulating dodgy business in China. The somehow disappointing, hour-long show this year was devoid of big-name scalps, however, it worked well as usual enhancing consumers’ protective awareness which could possibly lead to nation-wide boycotts of relevant services or products. The main focus of the gala spotlighted how medical waste is reportedly being turned into household items such as disposable cups and, even more shocking, children toys, which are supposedly controlled by rigorous standards of hygiene. Other highlighted exposés ranged from the dangers of e-cigarettes, faults with “flash” payment cards (similar to contactless bank cards), warnings concerning financial apps, safety issues regarding popular spicy snack as well as revelations about the spam messaging industry.
