BreadTalk has clarified that their Thye Moh Chan “Mushroom with Vegetarian Braised Meat” mooncake is fully vegetarian after a user pointed out pork oil and eggs as listed ingredients. The incident was highlighted on Sep. 14, 2024, when BreadTalk addressed the issue via a Facebook comment, explaining that outdated product cards had been distributed. The mooncakes are made with plant-based oil pastry and a vegetarian mushroom braised mock meat filling.
Background
Thye Moh Chan, a brand under BreadTalk Group, is known for its traditional Teochew baked goods. The confusion arose when a Facebook user, Keeve Chan, posted in the group Complaint Singapore, noting that the mooncake’s manufacturing label listed pork oil and eggs as ingredients. This led to concerns about false advertising and distress among vegetarians.
Pork oil and egg as listed ingredients
In his Facebook post, Keeve Chan referred to an earlier comment on BreadTalk’s Facebook page dated Sep. 10, where the brand mentioned that the mooncake was “not suitable” for vegans due to the presence of animal oil and eggs. Chan accused the company of “false advertising” and causing “unnecessary distress to vegetarians,” urging BreadTalk to issue a formal apology and refund vegetarian buyers.
BreadTalk’s response
On Sep. 14, BreadTalk responded to Chan’s post, clarifying that some products had been distributed with outdated labels. They reiterated that the mooncake is indeed suitable for vegetarians and apologised for the oversight. “We sincerely apologise for this oversight,” BreadTalk stated in their Facebook comment.
Mid-Autumn Festival significance
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant event in Singapore, celebrated with various traditional foods, including mooncakes. BreadTalk’s Thye Moh Chan brand is well-regarded for its festive offerings. This year marks BreadTalk’s 24th anniversary, and they have been actively promoting their mooncake sets, including a contest on Instagram for a chance to win their Joyous Reunion Mooncake set worth $70.80.
Future implications
This incident highlights the importance of accurate labelling, especially for products catering to specific dietary preferences. BreadTalk’s prompt response and apology may help mitigate any long-term damage to their reputation. Moving forward, the company will likely implement stricter quality control measures to prevent similar issues. The Mid-Autumn Festival remains a crucial period for BreadTalk, and maintaining consumer trust is essential for their continued success.
