‘Name-and-shame’ show hits Muji, Nike China

Nike China, Japanese retailer Muji and Chinese search engine Baike.com all featured in yesterday’s “name-and-shame” show on state-run television in China.

The consumer-protection show, 3.15 Gala accused Nike China of falsely advertising a limited edition of its basketball shoes. The goods in question claimed to have Zoom Air sole cushions when they did not, says the show. In an article on Bloomberg, Nike says that when it learned of the matter last year it contacted consumers and offered compensation along with an apology.

Muji was accused of selling food from radioactive-contaminated areas in Japan, while the Chinese encyclopedia/news website Baike.com, which has become a marketing platform, was accused of promoting health products that had not been officially certified.

Brands and enterprises across supermarkets, optometry, food, health and wellbeing services, medicines and other categories were also criticised by the program.

CCTV has been co-hosting the annual show with government agencies on World Consumer Rights Day, March 15, since 1991. It uses hidden cameras to highlight what the network calls companies’ unfair practices against consumers.

Over the years the show has pointed its finger at such brands as Alibaba, Apple, China Mobile and McDonald’s.

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