The Inside Story of Agented Foods, 90% of Consumers Have Been Deceived

Mr. Zhang recently discovered a beautifully packaged "Italian Olive Oil" in the supermarket. The price was only half that of the imported goods. When he excitedly shared it with his friends, he was told that it was actually a "private label product" produced by a domestic agent. Such stories are happening every day. Agented foods are occupying our tables at an astonishing speed, but are they really the same as the original imports?

1. The Mystery of the Place of Origin: Many agented foods will use foreign language packaging and vague expressions such as "Originating from XX Country", but the actual production address may be in a domestic industrial park. Ms. Li once bought biscuits with "French Flavor". Only after a closer look did she find that they were produced by a contract manufacturer in Guangdong.

2. Differences in Standards: For the agented products of the same brand in different countries, there may be significant differences in the formula and process. In the domestic agent version of a certain Nordic children's milk powder, the protein content is 15% lower than that of the original version.

• The agent cost is usually 30 - 50% lower than that of direct import.
• More than 60% of the "imported foods" are actually produced by agents.
• The shelf life is on average 3 - 6 months longer than that of the original products.

Food testing experts from Zhongshitong suggest that consumers pay attention to three key points:

• Check the information of the "Entrusting Party" and the "Entrusted Party" on the packaging.
• Compare whether the data in the nutrition facts table is consistent with the original version.
• Observe whether the food additives meet the domestic standards.

As consumers' awareness improves, the agent model that simply relies on the concept of "fake import" is losing its effectiveness. Data shows that in 2023, the sales volume of foods with clearly marked agent information increased by 27% year-on-year, indicating that the market is becoming more transparent.

An industry analyst who preferred to remain anonymous pointed out: "In the next five years, agented foods will experience polarization - either becoming the king of cost performance or transforming into a customized supplier with unique features."

The next time you pick up that bag of "Spanish Ham Flavor Potato Chips", you might as well turn it over to the back to check the small print. Will you insist on paying a premium for the original products or rationally choose compliant agented products? This seemingly small consumption decision is quietly reshaping the entire food industry chain.

Have you also discovered any surprising agented foods recently? Welcome to share your "piercing eyes" stories in the comment section.