(Yicai Global) March 16 -- Pop Mart International Group, China’s largest seller of blind boxes, TikTok’s sister app Douyin, and other businesses have taken action after the state broadcaster exposed their consumer rights abuses during its 315 show, an annual television event that names and shames brands for unethical or illegal business practices.

Toy retailer Pop Mart yesterday halted sales of blind boxes that contain food and beverages after the China Central Television show reported that the mystery packages drive consumers to buy too much, leading to food waste. The Beijing-based firm also reminded its partners to avoid over-the-top marketing, offer only reasonable promotions, and endorse rational consumption.

Douyin banned the live-streaming room CCTV exposed for having a male anchor who pretended to be a woman to get viewers to gift money, the ByteDance-operated short video platform said yesterday. The market regulator in the city of Shenyang has launched an investigation into Shenyang Juxiang Mutual Entertainment Culture Media, the anchor’s employer.

CCTV broadcasts the special show once a year on World Consumer Rights Day, which is March 15, hence its name ‘315.’ This year’s event focused on the platform economy, live streaming, food safety, public safety, and aesthetic treatments.

E-scooter maker Niu Technologies was found to have some facilities enabling illegal speed increase of its bikes to up to 40 kilometers per hour, while the speed limit for such vehicles is 25 km/h. “We are verifying the problem and will let the public know if we find anything,” it said yesterday.

Another company the 315 show put in the hot seat was information technology site Zol.Com. The firm apologized on Weibo for offering downloads of software bundled with other programs via the quick download option, saying it is making corrections.

Editor: Futura Costaglione