From traditional Chinese medicine bread to traditional Chinese medicine ice cream, from traditional Chinese medicine coffee to traditional Chinese medicine desserts, are these traditional Chinese medicine foods really for health or just a gimmick to raise prices? Li Ran (pseudonym), who works in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, recently fell in love with a traditional Chinese medicine bread - there is a bakery in Gongshu District that specializes in "medicine food boundaryless" and has launched a traditional Chinese medicine bread with seasonal Chinese herbs such as Ophiopogon japonicus and Perilla leaves added to the bread ingredients. Chinese medicine bread sounds very healthy 25-year-old Li Ran said that because he often stays up late, works overtime, watches dramas, and has an irregular lifestyle, he wants to regulate his body by eating traditional Chinese medicine bread. It felt like it had some effect, maybe it was psychological, "she said with a smile. For a period of time, traditional Chinese medicine catering has continued to heat up, from traditional Chinese medicine bread to traditional Chinese medicine ice cream, from traditional Chinese medicine coffee to traditional Chinese medicine desserts, various traditional Chinese medicine foods have emerged one after another, and there are also many young people like Li Ran who use traditional Chinese medicine foods for dietary supplements and health preservation. According to the "Z Generation Nutrition Consumption Trend Report", the young group aged 18 to 35 has become the main force in health consumption, accounting for 83.7% of the total. "Medicinal and edible foods with the same origin+nourishing foods" have become the first choice for consumption among the new generation. As more and more young people become fans of traditional Chinese medicine food, many netizens have raised doubts: is the integration of traditional Chinese medicine into catering really as good as advertised, and eating it is healthier and healthier? Chinese medicine+traffic password Chinese medicine drinks quickly gained popularity. "Don't rush! Health bread, it's ready soon!" Recently, at a shopping mall in Chaoyang District, Beijing, a reporter saw a bakery displaying such a prominent slogan, often attracting white-collar workers and passersby to stop and watch. The business in the store is quite good. According to the staff, the store specializes in health preserving toast, with a variety of options for pairing traditional Chinese medicine and ingredients such as perilla with beef, basil with chicken, and black mulberries. The ginseng toast with the word "ginseng" on the bread packaging also contains ginseng. I prefer to try new things, and Chinese medicine bread is a cross-border fusion of Chinese medicine and bread, which sounds quite attractive Ms. Li, a Beijing resident who is currently shopping, said that after seeing the advertisement posted by the store, she immediately placed an order for two popular products. "It tastes a bit strange, but overall it's acceptable," she said. "Chenpi Cinnamon Apple Crisp, Siraitia grosvenorii and blueberry Oubao, Chinese wolfberry raw milk ox horn bun, honey astragalus carrot toast..." In a Chinese medicine store, the reporter saw a richer combination of traditional Chinese medicine and food ingredients, which are generally sold for 20 to 30 yuan each. In addition, there are many traditional Chinese medicine desserts here, such as American ginseng, goji berry, brownie, roasted sesame seed, chia seed butter cake, etc., which are not cheap, with a small piece of cake generally priced at over 40 yuan. According to reports, there is a beverage shop located in a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. Consumers can feel the strong aroma of Chinese medicine when they enter the shop. The upper floor is a Chinese medicine shop, and the lower floor sells Chinese medicine drinks. Before drinking here, you need to take your pulse first, and then tell you what drinks you can drink based on your pulse. There are herbal coffee, Shennong coffee, and health tea in the store, and the accompanying pastries are mainly focused on health, such as Poria cocos cake and ginger sugar cake. The reporter found that with the continuous emergence of traditional Chinese medicine catering formats such as traditional Chinese medicine ice cream, traditional Chinese medicine coffee, traditional Chinese medicine tea, traditional Chinese medicine bread, traditional Chinese medicine desserts, traditional Chinese medicine Tonic Diet restaurants, traditional Chinese medicine+catering has become a new traffic password. Taking traditional Chinese medicine tea drinks as an example, according to incomplete statistics, there are over 30 tea drink brands in China that specialize in traditional Chinese medicine or herbal health preservation, known as the "new Chinese herbal tea drinks"; In terms of decoration, traditional Chinese medicine tea drinks generally follow the style of "traditional Chinese medicine shops", where traditional Chinese medicine related elements such as medicinal herbs, jars, cabinets, and acupoint diagrams are often used in the stores. On social media platforms, various posts about traditional Chinese medicine milk tea, traditional Chinese medicine coffee, and new Chinese health tea shops have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Cassia seed, Poria cocos, mulberries, etc. have become the latest "companions" of milk tea, fruit tea, and coffee. The exquisite arrangement of traditional Chinese tea drinks and the strong Chinese atmosphere in the store have become new materials for fashion bloggers. Why did traditional Chinese medicine food become popular this year? Some insiders said that the rise of China-Chic, young people's recognition of traditional Chinese medicine and increased demand for health care are the preconditions for the popularity of traditional Chinese medicine drinks this year. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine has its unique charm and mystery, providing consumers with a brand new experience that meets the social communication needs of contemporary young people. Traditional Chinese medicine cannot be added casually for health preservation. It cannot be casually said. As traditional Chinese medicine restaurants continue to be popular, there are also doubts about whether traditional Chinese medicine can be added to food at will? Lawyer Huang Di from Beijing Yinghe (Guangzhou) Law Firm, who has long been concerned about the medical and health field, said that according to the Drug Administration Law, drugs refer to substances used for preventing, treating, and diagnosing human diseases, purposefully regulating human physiological functions, and specifying indications or functional indications, usage, and dosage, including traditional Chinese medicine, chemical drugs, and biological products. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to the medicinal substances and preparations used under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, including three categories of traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces and traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations. Chinese medicinal materials themselves belong to the category of drugs, but in traditional Chinese dietary culture, some Chinese medicinal materials are also regarded as ingredients, which are substances that are both food and Chinese medicinal materials according to tradition (hereinafter referred to as food and medicine substances). According to the Food Safety Law, drugs are not allowed to be added to food produced and operated, but food and drug substances can be added. The list of edible and medicinal substances is formulated and published by the health administrative department of the State Council in conjunction with the food and drug supervision and administration department of the State Council. On August 26th of this year, the National Health Commission issued a notice on four newly added substances that are both food and traditional Chinese medicine, namely Rehmannia glutinosa, Ophiopogon japonicus, Asparagus japonicus, and Citrus reticulata. And according to the "Regulations on the Management of Substances that are Both Food and Chinese Medicinal Materials According to Tradition", food and medicinal substances refer to substances that are traditionally used as food and listed in the "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China". Therefore, if Chinese medicinal materials other than food and medicine substances are added to ordinary food, or other traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, chemical raw materials and their preparations are added, it can be deemed as illegal addition of drug ingredients in food and should be punished according to law Huang Di said. Do traditional Chinese medicine foods really have health benefits, or is it a marketing tactic used by businesses? A traditional Chinese medicine doctor from a top tier hospital in Beijing said that traditional Chinese medicine is highly specialized, with different preferences for each type of food, individual constitutions, and suitable formulas. It is difficult for businesses to excel in professionalism and adaptability, and it is also difficult to balance health and good taste. At present, many emerging traditional Chinese medicine foods mainly focus on promoting health concepts, psychological comfort, and cultural identity. Traditional Chinese medicine catering is not equivalent to medicine, and consumers should remain rational about this. A staff member at a traditional Chinese medicine ice cream shop told reporters that although some herbs are added to the ice cream, it is impossible to achieve the same effect as traditional Chinese medicine. And some consumers told reporters that they went because traditional Chinese medicine food can really achieve health goals. Integrating traditional Chinese medicine culture with contemporary health management, blending natural herbs with coffee and diet, and creating a beautiful and healthy lifestyle together... "After seeing the promotion of a Chinese medicine coffee shop online, the reporter prepared to buy a cup to try it out. However, when asked the customer service, they were told that their" herbal coffee drink "did not contain Chinese medicine. If you want to buy Chinese medicine food, you can buy the Chinese medicine mooncakes sold in the shop. Not sure if it can promote health but using "health preservation" as a selling point, selling under the name "Chinese medicine+food" without containing traditional Chinese medicine. Do these practices of merchants comply with relevant laws and regulations? Zheng Zhongchen, director of Beijing Lutong Law Firm, said that for health foods that want to promote health and other functions, relevant institutions need to provide certification. China has strict regulations on food with specific health functions, which must be approved by the National Health Commission and certified as health food. This usually involves a series of scientific research, safety assessment, and effectiveness verification. In Zheng Zhongchen's view, if the products sold in a store are labeled as herbal or health food, but do not contain traditional Chinese medicine, it may be considered as false advertising, suspected of false advertising, or bear relevant legal responsibilities. According to relevant laws and regulations, food labels and promotional materials need to be truthful and accurate, and must not mislead consumers. Different consumers have different opinions on whether traditional Chinese medicine restaurants really have health benefits and whether they are worth the money. Jiale (pseudonym) in Tianjin has high expectations for the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine food, and she has bought Chinese medicine bread several times. After eating, I feel that there is no effect. The price of a few tens of yuan is not cheap, and I will never buy it again. Only by developing good sleep habits can my physical condition be improved. Eating traditional Chinese medicine bread can promote health, which seems unrealistic. In short, when choosing traditional Chinese medicine food, consumers should carefully check the product label and ingredient list, understand whether the product has been certified by relevant institutions, and maintain a rational attitude towards its claimed health benefits. At the same time, for any food or supplement, the principle of moderation should be followed, and medical professionals should be consulted when necessary, "said Zheng Zhongchen. Clarify the content to ensure quality, strengthen supervision and smooth complaints. The Chinese medicine catering market is currently developing rapidly, but it cannot be denied that there are some merchants in the market who use this as a gimmick to raise prices. In addition to quality problems, some products also promote the therapeutic effects of the food they sell. These issues not only harm the rights and interests of consumers, but also disrupt market order and affect the healthy development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. Regarding this, Huang Di suggests that relevant regulatory departments should abide by their responsibilities, remain vigilant, and prevent certain businesses from exaggerating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine foods and misleading consumers. For those merchants who seek profits, harm consumer rights, and provide substandard products, strict investigation and punishment must be carried out in accordance with the law. The market supervision and management department should also strengthen compliance training for the traditional Chinese medicine catering industry. For operators, they should pay attention to and follow the list of 'substances that are both food and traditional Chinese medicine' issued by official institutions such as the National Health Commission. Strengthen the procurement inspection process, strictly implement the certification and invoice system, and ensure that the purchased Chinese medicinal materials meet quality standards from the source. And manage it properly according to the specific storage standards of traditional Chinese medicine, pay attention to its shelf life and storage conditions, regularly review the inventory, and quickly remove any expired or spoiled raw materials. It is strictly prohibited to publish any false or misleading information and mislead consumers through deceptive advertising Huang Di said. In February of this year, the National Health Commission and other departments jointly issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of Health Culture in the New Era", which clearly proposed to "promote the integration of traditional Chinese medicine culture into production and life" and "accelerate the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine culture from content supply to product supply". The interviewed experts believe that traditional Chinese medicine catering is a rising way of health preservation in recent years, providing young people with a new way of health preservation, offering new opportunities for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine culture, expanding the awareness of traditional Chinese medicine culture, and achieving a transformation and upgrading that keeps pace with the times. To promote the healthy development of the traditional Chinese medicine catering market, Zheng Zhongchen suggests that relevant departments should require businesses to clearly label the traditional Chinese medicine ingredients in their products. All traditional Chinese medicine catering products should have clear and detailed labels, including ingredients, content, possible side effects, and consumption guidelines. Easy to understand instructions should be provided so that consumers can understand the product characteristics and possible drug interactions before consumption. Simultaneously establish prices