"Healthy Cigarettes Said to Be Good for the Lungs? Manufacturer Remains Unknown, Sparking Controversy in China"

Healthy Cigarettes Containing Mugwort, Ginseng, and Cordyceps
Manufacturer Exists Only on Paper as a Phantom Company

Recently, so-called “healthy cigarettes” have become popular on Chinese online platforms, but controversy is growing as it has been confirmed that the manufacturers are unidentified.

On June 15, The Paper reported, “Cigarettes marketed as nourishing for the lungs are enjoying popularity on online platforms, but the manufacturers of these products cannot be found.”

Although cigarettes marketed as healthy are being sold in China, the manufacturers cannot be identified, causing controversy. The following is the search result for these cigarettes on Baidu.

Marketed as Health Products Containing Herbal Ingredients

According to the report, these cigarettes do not contain nicotine and are advertised as products containing traditional herbal ingredients such as mugwort, ginseng, and cordyceps. They are claimed to nourish the lungs, remove waste from blood vessels, and improve blood circulation, among other benefits.

Some product descriptions even claim that placing the item in an aquarium can revive dead fish. The report noted, “The appearance and usage are the same as regular cigarettes,” and that these products are being sold with great popularity on online platforms. On Taobao, a carton (20 cigarettes) is sold for 66 yuan (about 15,000 won), while ten cartons are priced at 540 yuan (about 128,000 won). However, a consumer surnamed Xu, who reported the product, said, “After smoking, my throat felt itchy and later became sore. I ended up receiving a prescription at the emergency room.”

Manufacturer Unknown... Phantom Companies That Exist Only on Paper

The manufacturer cannot be found. The product packaging claims it is produced by Hubei Zhongai Co., Ltd., but Hubei Zhongai has denied manufacturing the product. The factory address listed on the packaging was found not to exist. Nearby merchants hinted that the cigarettes are sourced from other regions and that the false address is used to evade tobacco regulations and sell counterfeit cigarettes.

The Paper visited an herbal medicine shop that sells mugwort both wholesale and retail, but found no trace of the product there either. A village resident said that employees of the company left years ago in the middle of the night and no one knows their whereabouts. The factory and headquarters addresses exist only on paper, making the company a phantom entity.

In response to consumer complaints, the local Market Supervision Administration and the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau have launched investigations, but have yet to track down the manufacturer. A representative from the regional market authority said, “Two months have passed, but we still have not found the manufacturer.” An official from the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau warned, “Although the product is advertised as non-addictive, this is misleading consumers. Such exaggerated health claims not only deceive but also endanger consumers’ health. Do not be fooled by claims that these are healthy cigarettes.”

A respiratory medicine doctor in Chongqing commented on the product, “There is no evidence that the advertised effects are real, and in fact, it is harmful to health. Burning herbs like mugwort produces toxic and hazardous substances, so inhaling large amounts of smoke into the lungs poses a risk of poisoning.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.