Analysis of the Langerge Yogurt Acidity Non-Compliance Incident: Report on Consumer Trust Crisis in the Grassland Yogurt Category

Based on collected information, I will systematically analyze the Langerge Yogurt Acidity Non-Compliance Incident and its impact on consumer trust in the Grassland Yogurt category from multiple dimensions.

In December 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the “Circular on Non-Compliant Food Products in 45 Batches of Sampling Inspections”. The grassland yogurt (fermented milk) produced by Inner Mongolia Langerge Dairy Co., Ltd. was found to have non-compliant acidity. The acidity test result of this batch (production date: November 3, 2024, specification: 200g/bottle) was 66.6°T, which is below the requirement of ≥70.0°T specified in the “National Food Safety Standard Fermented Milk” (GB 19302-2010), and the product was judged as non-compliant [1][2][3].

Langerge Dairy was founded by Cui Haiping in Ulanqab in 2007, and is “China’s first large-scale dairy enterprise focusing on grassland yogurt production”. It has gained a share in the low-temperature yogurt niche market by virtue of regional characteristics such as “grassland bacterial strains” and “natural fermentation”, and has completed multiple rounds of financing [1][2].

As the pioneer and representative enterprise of the grassland yogurt category, Langerge holds a benchmark position in the industry. Bai Wenxi, Chief Economist of the China Enterprise Capital Alliance (China Region), pointed out:

This incident has shattered Langerge’s long-established brand narratives such as “professional cold chain management” and “traditional craft quality”, which stands in stark contrast to the claim on its official website: “Professional cold chain management, full cold chain control at 2-6℃ from factory to end terminal” [2].

In addition to the non-compliance in sampling inspection, Langerge is also facing a surge of consumer complaints. According to data from the Black Cat Complaint Platform, as of December 30, 2025, there have been 53 cumulative complaints against Langerge, with more than 20 complaints in 2025 alone, accounting for 50% of the total. The complaints involve issues such as foreign matter, physical discomfort after consumption, and product spoilage, and the after-sales service attitude has been widely criticized [2].

A typical complaint in July 2025 showed that after purchasing Langerge yogurt at Zhongbai Warehouse, a consumer experienced symptoms such as abdominal pain. When contacting after-sales service, the customer service not only failed to verify the situation but also repeatedly questioned the consumer about “whether there was a problem with their intestines” and “whether they consumed too much”, and required the consumer to provide an MA-certified test report before compensation could be made [2]. Zhan Junhao, a well-known crisis public relations expert, stated:

Song Liang, an independent dairy industry analyst, pointed out bluntly:

Dairy industry expert Wang Dingmian holds a similar view:

The “40th Parallel North Golden Milk Source Belt” that Langerge repeatedly emphasizes in its promotions has also been questioned by experts. Wang Dingmian pointed out that although Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang are located at this latitude, they experience a months-long cold and freezing period every winter, where no grass can grow, and the cattle are generally fed silage.

In addition, Langerge’s promotional materials claim that the milk source belt has 389 species of wild forage grass, but Wang Dingmian questioned:

Dairy industry insiders analyze that non-compliant acidity is mainly caused by problems in the “front-end control” links of the production process (raw materials, bacterial strains, fermentation), rather than intentional acts in the later stage.

A dairy enterprise executive opined:

Although Langerge’s official website claims to provide “professional cold chain management”, the situation is not optimistic based on user reviews on e-commerce platforms such as JD.com. Consumer feedback includes:

• “The yogurt is very thin, it tastes like it’s gone bad, and the ice packs have turned into hot packs”
• “It was basically at room temperature when it arrived, and the packaging says to store it at 2℃ to -6℃; I had diarrhea after drinking it”
• “There were only two or three ice packs, and the delivery took three or four days, so it’s been at room temperature for a long time” [2].

Bai Wenxi pointed out:

Data from Nielsen IQ shows that from January to September 2023, the sales revenue of low-temperature yogurt through offline channels nationwide decreased by 8.7% year-on-year, and sales volume decreased by 10.2% year-on-year. Data from Mashangying shows that in the first quarter of 2024, the overall sales revenue of the offline yogurt category decreased by 11.46% year-on-year, and sales volume decreased by 12.69% year-on-year. The average price of low-temperature yogurt products in the industry dropped from around 80 yuan per unit in 2022 to 20-40 yuan per unit in 2024 [4].

In fact, Langerge is not an isolated case. In recent years, mid-to-high-end yogurt brands such as Simple Love, Classy Kiss, and Oarmilk have all faced food safety disputes:

• Simple Love
  : 2020 “worm egg incident”, 2024 “burning throat/bleach taste” controversy
• Classy Kiss
  : Detected for excessive yeast, production line suspended
• Oarmilk
  : Production factory punished for non-compliant coliform bacteria [4].

A consumer reported that Simple Love yogurt tasted “burning throat” and “like bleach”, and Simple Love’s official response stated that

These incidents have greatly undermined consumer trust in mid-to-high-end yogurt, which in turn has affected product sales.

1. Demystification of the Category Concept
   : Experts’ doubts about the scientificity of “grassland yogurt” may trigger consumers to re-examine the true value of the category.
   “Grassland yogurt” may change from a differentiated advantage to a negative label associated with marketing gimmicks

2. Industry Trust Contagion
   : As a representative enterprise in the category, Langerge’s quality issues may trigger consumers’ doubts about the entire grassland yogurt category, resulting in a significant “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” effect

3. Strengthened Regulatory Expectations
   : In an environment of high sensitivity to food safety, a single sampling inspection result may trigger continuous attention from regulatory authorities on the grassland yogurt category, forming industry-wide regulatory pressure

Although Langerge’s customer service responded that all room-temperature yogurt products have been removed from shelves, and there have been no room-temperature yogurt products under the brand since March 2025, and

The Langerge yogurt acidity non-compliance incident has had

1. Direct Level
   : As the category pioneer and benchmark enterprise, Langerge’s quality issues have directly shaken consumers’ trust in the quality commitment of “grassland yogurt”
2. Conceptual Level
   : Experts’ doubts about the scientificity of “grassland yogurt” contradict the marketing concepts that Langerge has always emphasized, such as “grassland bacterial strains” and “natural fermentation”, which may trigger consumers to re-examine the entire category concept
3. Industry Level
   : Coupled with the overall trust crisis in the yogurt industry and frequent incidents of mid-to-high-end brands failing, consumers’ overall trust in the yogurt category is at a historical low
4. Operational Level
   : Cold chain management loopholes and after-sales complaint issues expose the imperfection of the enterprise’s quality control system during rapid expansion

1. Quality Control Upgrade
   : Establish a full-link quality monitoring system from raw materials to end terminals, and include key indicators such as acidity in real-time monitoring
2. Transparent Communication
   : Proactively disclose production processes, quality inspection reports, and cold chain distribution information, and rebuild consumer trust through transparency
3. After-Sales Experience Optimization
   : Simplify the complaint handling process and reduce the cost of consumer rights protection
4. Consolidate Category Value
   : Shift from “marketing concept” to “scientific support”, and use verifiable technical standards to support the differentiated positioning of “grassland yogurt”

In the dairy industry with high sensitivity to food safety and increasingly fierce competition,

[1] Sina Finance - “New Yogurt Player Langerge Gets a Lesson” (https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2026-01-08/doc-inhfqpsv1377773.shtml)

[2] Sohu - “Non-Compliant Acidity Plus Mounting Complaints, Langerge Grassland Yogurt Falls into Trust Crisis” (https://www.sohu.com/a/974091863_270752)

[3] Sohu - “Artificial Term, No Technical Differences: Langerge’s ‘Grassland Yogurt’ Accused of Being Merely Conceptual Innovation” (https://m.sohu.com/a/974040367_121433279/)

[4] 21st Century Business Herald - “Mid-to-High-End Yogurt Falls from the Pedestal, Will ‘Consumption Assassins’ Finally Be Abandoned?” (https://www.21jingji.com/article/20241017/herald/5caa79fec6b4ad0ddcedf3184bd01ca8.html)