Beijing's market regulators have launched an official probe into the street vendor known as "goose leg auntie" after she admitted that the popular grilled legs she has sold for years are actually made from duck.

北京知名摊主“鹅腿阿姨”承认，其多年售卖的网红烤腿实际为鸭腿。目前，北京市市场监管部门已对其展开正式调查。

"We are verifying conduct suspected of misleading consumers and will handle the case according to the law," the Haidian district administration for market regulation said on Thursday, adding that authorities have immediately launched an investigation and questioned individuals involved.

海淀区市场监管局于周四表示，目前正在核实涉嫌误导消费者的相关行为，将依法依规处理此案，同时已第一时间启动调查，并约谈相关当事人。

The announcement came after Chen Xiufeng, 56, the vendor behind the nickname, confessed in a customer group chat that she had switched from goose legs to duck legs more than a decade ago but kept the name "goose leg auntie." Hashtags related to the incident quickly went viral on Chinese social media on Wednesday, drawing widespread criticism and calls for stronger consumer protection.

56岁的摊主陈秀凤，也就是网友熟知的“鹅腿阿姨”，在顾客群聊中坦言，自己十多年前就将售卖的鹅腿换成了鸭腿，却一直保留“鹅腿阿姨”的名号。周三，相关话题迅速刷屏国内社交媒体，引发广泛舆论批评，网友纷纷呼吁加强消费者权益保护力度。

Chen rose to fame in late 2023 when students from Peking University, Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China were seen lining up for hours at her stall.

2023年末，北大、清华、人大三校学生为她的摊位排队数小时的画面走红网络，“鹅腿阿姨”就此爆火出圈。

But on Tuesday, Chen posted an announcement in one of her customer group chats saying that the raw material is duck legs.

但在本周二，陈秀凤在顾客群中发文承认，自己售卖的烤腿原材料为鸭腿。

"I will make it clear in the future. If you mind, please do not place orders. The name ‘goose leg auntie' has been used for over 10 years. There is no fraud involved," she wrote.

她写道：“以后我会标注清楚，介意的顾客请勿下单。‘鹅腿阿姨’这个名字已经用了十多年，我不存在欺诈行为。”

The admission came after a customer in Beijing's central business area, Guomao, reported her to authorities. Chen also claimed in the group that she had been "reported by an office elite" and was "cooperating with relevant departments".

此次事件曝光，源于一名北京国贸商圈的顾客向有关部门举报。陈秀凤也在群聊中表示，自己是被“职场精英举报”，目前正在配合相关部门调查。

Hashtags about the incident quickly topped trending lists on Chinese social media. Many students expressed a sense of betrayal.

该事件相关话题迅速登顶社交媒体热搜榜单，不少常年购买的学生表示深感被欺骗。

Xue Siyuan, a master's student at Renmin University's School of Journalism, said that when he learned the supposed goose leg was actually duck, his first reaction was bewilderment.

中国人民大学新闻学院硕士研究生薛思远表示，得知自己一直吃的鹅腿其实是鸭腿时，第一反应是十分错愕。

He said he would not call himself angry, but rather "a little unsettled".

他称自己谈不上愤怒，更多的是心里有些不舒服。

Xue joined Chen's group-buy chat in May 2022, but did not try the grilled legs until around October that year.

薛思远在2022年5月加入了摊主的团购群，同年10月左右才首次购买烤腿。

"I always thought I was eating goose legs, because she promoted herself as ‘goose leg auntie' and sold ‘goose legs'," Xue recalled.

薛思远回忆道：“她一直以‘鹅腿阿姨’自居，售卖的产品也标注为鹅腿，我从头到尾都以为自己吃的是鹅腿。”

"It was really popular — getting a leg was almost impossible. She opened orders at fixed times every day, and you had to grab it the moment it opened," Xue said.

他表示：“当时她家的烤腿特别火爆，根本很难抢到。每天固定时间开售，必须准时抢单才能买到。”

Market data reveal a significant price difference between goose and duck legs. According to wholesale platform 1688.com, frozen duck legs cost only 2 to 3 yuan (30 to 44 cents) each, while goose legs are more expensive, at 6 to 7 yuan each.

市场数据显示，鹅腿和鸭腿的成本差价悬殊。据1688批发平台数据，冷冻鸭腿单只成本仅2至3元，而冷冻鹅腿单只成本高达6至7元。

As the controversy deepened, consumers came forward with photos showing that some of the roasted legs they had purchased appeared greenish in color. Chen's family responded that the green color came from a "vegetable juice marinade", describing it as their "secret recipe".

随着舆论持续发酵，有消费者晒出照片，反映购买的烤腿表皮泛绿。对此，摊主家属回应称，烤腿发绿是使用了蔬菜汁酱料腌制所致，属于自家的秘制配方。

Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, told Dahe News — a newspaper in Henan — that by continuing to use the "goose leg" name to promote sales without informing customers of the ingredient change, Chen violated consumers' right to know and could face claims for triple damages under China's Consumer Rights Protection Law.

河南泽槿律师事务所主任付建接受《大河报》采访时表示，摊主在未告知消费者食材更换的前提下，持续以“鹅腿”名义宣传售卖，侵犯了消费者的知情权，根据我国《消费者权益保护法》，消费者可主张三倍赔偿。

The China Consumers Association told China Newsweek, a Beijing-based magazine, on Thursday that it had noticed the incident and would collect leads and report them to relevant government departments.