Farine Whistleblower Speaks Out

While the Farine flour drama continues, there’s news that the whistleblower (known to the public only by his Weibo username @1987晋宝宝) has been anonymously threatened. 

A call came from a telephone number listed in Shaanxi, Xianyang, and a man with Shanghai accent reportedly told @1987晋宝宝 “We can sue you for disclosing trade secrets, and for defamation, it's a piece of cake to deal with you in Shanghai.”

@1987晋宝宝recounted this call, as well as many other details during a recent interview with a Pengpai news reporter.

He told the reporter he’s been a baker since 2008, when he began in Japan, and that he joined Farine on October 25th of this past year.

“It’s no secret that Farine used expired flour.” He said. “Expired flour has some big lumps, and if you crush these lumps, it’s yellow inside, and quite musty.”

He mentioned that the expiration of the flour will not affect the taste and smell of bread, and that “the boss is very sensitive to this matter, if we discuss the matter, and would be fired.”

Starting in November, he began paying attention to the dates of flour bags, as well as poor conditions in the kitchen. He saw that an exceeding amount of the flour used was expired. Worried about losing his job if he spoke up, he decided instead to document what he saw on his mobile phone to collect evidence and make a report.

That report was first sent to the FDA on March 20th, but it dropped like a hammer when posted on Weibo last Wednesday, March 22nd at 1:55am. By mid-morning that day the Shanghai FDA had seized 578 bags of expired imported French flour, as well as forced four Farine stores to destroy their baked goods.

Questions about food safety are now extending beyond Farine, which is owned and operated by Franck Group. Other establishments under their ownership include Franck bistro, Rachel's, Far West, WIYF and Grains, which have all been temporarily closed.

Eight people associated with the business have been arrested so far, but that doesn’t include Franck Group owner Franck Pecol, who is currently in France.

Source: 澎湃新闻

Related Articles