According to AFP, viral videos show that ice cream from Zhong Xue Gao, also known as Chicecream (China), remains solid even when exposed to flames, including from a blowtorch.
A Chinese ice cream brand, dubbed “the Hermes of ice cream”, has faced criticism after social media users reported that some of its products do not melt, even when subjected to a blowtorch.
Ice cream from Zhong Xue Gao – (Photo: DONEWS)
According to AFP, the viral videos demonstrate that ice cream from Zhong Xue Gao, also known as Chicecream (China), remains solid when exposed to flames. This product does not completely melt when left at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius for one hour or under very high heat.
The expensive ice cream from China tested at 31 degrees Celsius. (Photo: Baidu).
After 20 minutes, the ice cream still does not melt like regular ice creams. (Photo: Baidu)
These videos have left social media users astonished. They questioned whether the company’s products contain excessive additives. The most expensive product from Zhong Xue Gao is priced at 66 yuan (10 USD).
However, on July 6, the company asserted that its products comply with national food safety regulations.
“We believe that assessing the quality of ice cream by grilling, baking, or heating it is unscientific,” Zhong Xue Gao stated in a Weibo post that garnered over 168,000 likes.
The non-melting ice cream from Zhong Xue Gao
AFP reported that they could not verify the aforementioned videos and it remains unclear what stabilizers are used in the ice cream. Stabilizers are food additives used to maintain texture and are commonly used in mass-produced ice creams, having been widely approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Wang Silu, a senior food inspector in China, also stated that the products used to thicken the ice cream are safe.
Zhong Xue Gao has marketed itself as a Chinese ice cream brand that competes with Western brands like Magnum and Häagen-Dazs. They use ingredients believed to be natural and have product designs inspired by local culture.
