WaHaHa's Purified Water Outsourcing to Jinmailang Sparks Quality Concerns and Debate

This controversy began when several netizens shared videos showing WaHaHa purified water products that were actually manufactured by Jinmailang. An investigation found that since 2024, there have been reports of WaHaHa purified water being outsourced to Jinmailang for production. The involved Jinmailang subsidiaries include those in Longyao, Heyuan, Xinning, and Tangyin, among others. Notably, the packaging of these outsourced products differs slightly from that of WaHaHa's in-house productions.

In response to these findings, WaHaHa's customer service reassured consumers that any WaHaHa products purchased through official channels meet the company's quality standards and are safe for consumption. The spokesperson explained that WaHaHa has multiple production bases across the country and produces various packaging versions of the same product to cater to different regional consumer demands, which may result in differences in packaging. Jinmailang's customer service also confirmed that the WaHaHa products they manufacture are made according to WaHaHa's product standards.

The reaction from netizens has been significant, with some viewing the outsourcing as a standard business practice to meet demand without compromising quality. Conversely, others are apprehensive about potential differences in the purified water produced by Jinmailang compared to WaHaHa's own production, citing the price disparity between the two companies' products as a cause for concern. Some consumers have reported a difference in taste, citing that even if the quality is the same, the mouthfeel may vary. This concern is not unique to WaHaHa, as other companies have faced similar issues when outsourcing production.

On social media, many have questioned the decision, with some wondering why they should purchase WaHaHa's purified water when they could buy Jinmailang's products directly, which are often cheaper. Others have expressed concerns that the outsourcing may dilute WaHaHa's brand image, with one user commenting that the company's decision to outsource production to Jinmailang may lead to a loss of trust among consumers. Despite reassurances from both WaHaHa and Jinmailang, some consumers remain uncertain about the equivalence in quality between WaHaHa's self-produced purified water and that manufactured by Jinmailang, especially considering the price differences. However, many others have pointed out that outsourcing production is a common practice in the industry, typically occurring when the original manufacturer cannot meet market demand, and that quality is generally not a concern in such arrangements. Ultimately, the effect of Jinmailang's production on the quality and taste of WaHaHa's purified water remains a topic of discussion, with further investigation necessary to fully understand the implications of this outsourcing decision.