Sam’s Club, a well-known U.S. supermarket chain, is under investigation in China after a customer discovered a human tooth in a mooncake purchased from a branch in Changzhou, Jiangsu province. The mooncake, filled with meat and priced at 30 yuan (US$4), was bought by a woman who shared her shocking discovery in a video posted on Douyin on September 5.
The woman stated that the tooth did not belong to any of her family members, prompting her to report the incident to the police. Sam’s Club’s local staff confirmed that the company had launched an investigation into the matter.
The mooncake manufacturer has denied the possibility of a tooth being mixed into the filling. A spokesperson for the company, identified as Liu, explained that all meat used in their products undergoes a thorough mincing process and is screened by X-ray machines capable of detecting bone fragments. Liu emphasized that no similar incident had occurred in over a decade of operation.
To support the investigation, the manufacturer has provided surveillance footage to Sam’s Club and the local market regulatory department. Meanwhile, the relevant government authorities are also looking into the case.
This is not the first time Sam’s Club has faced food safety concerns in mainland China. In 2022, a customer in Fujian province reported finding three artificial teeth in Swiss rolls purchased from the chain, resulting in her uncle breaking his own teeth while eating. Despite the company’s promise to investigate, no findings were made public. Additionally, the Nanjing branch of Sam’s Club was fined 30,000 yuan (US$4,200) for selling mouldy strawberries, while the Shunyi location in Beijing faced a 65,000 yuan (US$9,000) fine for selling expired milk powder.
With 49 branches across China, Sam’s Club has more than 5 million members, who pay at least 260 yuan (US$36) annually for membership. The brand, which entered the Chinese market in 1996, has been fined over 20 times in recent years for false advertising and food safety violations.
The incident has sparked outrage among customers, with one Douyin user commenting, “It’s so disgusting to find someone else’s tooth in food.” Another suggested that the customer check if a family member might have unknowingly lost a tooth, as it is possible for a tooth to fall out without causing pain.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities and Sam’s Club continue to review the case.
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