(Yicai Global) July 16 -- Burger King, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, China Vanke and Qutoutiao all issued statements after being cited for quality problems reported on China Central Television's consumer rights protection event broadcast yesterday. Each apologized to consumers and pledged to launch immediate investigations.

Burger King stores in Nanchang, Jiangxi province are selling expired bread by changing shelf life labels, and headquarters knew of this, the CCTV investigation found. Burger King China has formed a working team and demanded its stores featured in the report suspend their business for rectification, the firm responded yesterday, adding it will cooperate with government agencies' probes.

Transmission problems that result in unexpected loss of power on highways have turned up in 560 SAIC-GM-Wuling Baojun sport-utility vehicles, according to buyers, who found their channels for complaint blocked because the firm had discontinued their production in 2018, per the CCTV report. SAIC-GM-Wuling has opened an inquiry into the issue and will announce its progress on WeChat and Weibo, the firm said yesterday. Its Baojun marque also expressed its contrition to consumers.

Serious water leaks were found in real estate giant Vanke's swanky residential units in Guangzhou and buyers also found areas uncovered with flooring and with unhinged doors in the delivery period agreed to in their contracts. The developer offered to repair these homes after their acceptance, which generated discontent among these buyers, the report continued. 

Vanke responded via its WeChat account last night that the problem featured in the CCTV report had been resolved by June 30, but nevertheless apologizes to customers affected for their troubles. The company will continue to highlight product quality and service, it added.

Content aggregation platform Qutoutiao is rife with misleading advertisements on the efficacy of healthcare products, as well as links, live streams and mini-games for illegal gambling, the report claimed. The company has set up a working group and is checking all ads on its platform and will ban those it uncovers as having the above problems, the firm pledged yesterday.

CCTV also reported that some smart phone apps steal users' privacy and aquatic farms use highly toxic pesticides to kill creatures detrimental to the growth of sea cucumbers.

The broadcaster started to stage its annual World Consumer Rights Day event on March 15 in 1991 to shine the spotlight on infringements of consumer rights. This year's campaign was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Editor: Ben Armour