(Yicai) Nov. 15 -- Nestlé has denied that the Swiss food and beverage giant has produced or supplied any second-hand ice makers to NetEase, which were allegedly previously used by the Chinese internet giant's rival Tencent Holdings.

After a preliminary investigation, Nestlé found out that the ice makers NetEase reported to the Chinese market regulator over food safety issues because second-hand were not produced or provided by Nestlé, The Paper reported the Chinese arm of the Vavey-based company as saying.

NetEase sent a letter to the State Administration for Market Regulation reporting safety hazards in second-hand ice makers Nestlé and its agents sold to NetEase, The Paper reported yesterday, citing an insider at the Hangzhou-based firm. The ice makers were suspected of violating national standards, such as second-hand use, metal transportation, and insufficient maintenance, it added.

"Food quality and safety are the top priorities of Nestlé," the company noted. "The products sold and provided in China meet the requirements of relevant national standards and are safe to eat."

A photo posted on Chinese social media showing a Tencent label on the ice makers in NetEase's office went viral, sparking widespread attention and becoming a hot topic online.

On Nov. 8, a Nestlé agent sent a batch of ice makers to NetEase's office in Guangzhou. Later, NetEase found that the ice makers were labeled by a third-party company, so it sealed and tested the related Nestlé devices, coffee beans, and milk powder the following day, the NetEase insider noted yesterday.

Nestlé's agent provided NetEase with second-hand ice makers with major food hygiene and safety hazards, showing that Nestlé did not fulfill its supervision responsibility on its agents, the insider added.

Editor: Futura Costaglione