Huangtian'e Founder Responds to Fraud Allegations in Live Stream: Felt Wronged at First; Need to Eat 75 Huangtian'e Eggs Daily to Exceed Standards

Special Topic: Improving Consumer Quality — Focus on the 2026 “315 Gala”

On the morning of March 17, news broke that Huang Tian’e has become embroiled in a synthetic coloring controversy. The anti-fraud team led by Wang Hai released two detection reports, indicating the presence of beta-carotene in their products, which contradicts the brand’s long-standing claim of “no artificial synthetic colors,” raising concerns about false advertising.

On the evening of March 16, Feng Bin, founder and chairman of Huang Tian’e, appeared live to respond. During the broadcast, Feng emphasized, “Huang Tian’e eggs absolutely do not contain artificial synthetic beta-carotene. Consumers can rest assured, as the relevant test indicators are completely harmless to human health.”

Feng added that beta-carotene exists naturally in certain forms and that detecting this substance does not automatically mean it was added artificially. He cited EU safety standards to explain: “Based on the detected levels of beta-carotene, an adult would need to eat 75 Huang Tian’e eggs daily to reach a potentially harmful level.”

Feng admitted that his initial reaction to the incident was feeling “wronged,” but after calming down, he stated he would view the issue objectively and rationally. “We openly accept market supervision and are willing to listen to every consumer’s doubts,” he said. He also promised that the company would increase the frequency of testing related to egg quality and beta-carotene levels and continue to respond transparently to public concerns.

Regarding the detection value of 1.65 mg/kg of beta-carotene published by Wang Hai’s team, Feng explained that, according to publicly available research data, a yolk color of about 9 degrees requires a beta-carotene content of over 2 mg/kg. Since Huang Tian’e eggs already reach a yolk color of over 12 degrees, “a level of 1.65 mg/kg is actually insufficient to produce the yolk color we see now. This value still falls within a reasonable range and is definitely not due to artificial addition.”

Feng further clarified that the cost of adding trace amounts of beta-carotene accounts for less than 1% of the total cost of natural pigments. It neither improves costs nor significantly affects coloring. “We have no motivation to add artificial colors. The natural color of the yolk is achieved entirely through the natural extracts of corn, marigold, and red chili peppers, which we purchase annually at a cost of over ten million yuan.”

Recently, Wang Hai’s team commissioned a legally qualified third-party testing agency to analyze Huang Tian’e products. The initial test of edible eggs showed a beta-carotene level of 0.399 mg/kg. Subsequently, the team also released test results from Huang Tian’e eggs purchased at Yonghui Supermarket, revealing a beta-carotene residue of 1.65 mg/kg, which is more than three times the upper limit of the “natural range” claimed by Huang Tian’e, suggesting artificial addition.

Wang Hai’s team pointed out that chickens cannot synthesize beta-carotene, and this compound is not present in conventional natural feed. The detected levels in mass-produced eggs likely come from feed deposits, and the significant amount detected strongly suggests artificial addition. They questioned how Huang Tian’e could claim that their egg yolk color can be achieved without artificial coloring.

In response to this controversy, Huang Tian’e issued a statement on March 15. The statement clarified that the rumor claiming “detection of beta-carotene equals artificial synthesis” is a serious misinterpretation and misinformation. Beta-carotene naturally exists in the environment; trace amounts can be found in eggs, fish, shrimp, and other natural foods. Detection does not mean artificial addition.

The statement also noted that the 0.399 mg/kg of beta-carotene detected in Huang Tian’e eggs is within natural background levels and far below relevant standards. The product contains no artificial synthetic colors. The company disclosed that it spends over ten million yuan annually on natural plant extracts such as marigold and chili peppers to achieve the natural yolk color. They also stated that they will pursue legal action against those who fabricate and spread false rumors to protect the brand’s legitimate rights and interests.

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Editor: Yang Ci