By Darius
Recently, Luo Yonghao, an entrepreneur and public speaker from mainland China, publicly criticized the chain restaurant Xibei online, claiming that its dishes are pre-made and overpriced, which he found highly unreasonable. In response, Jia Guolong, the founder and CEO of Xibei, refuted this claim, stating that none of their dishes are pre-made.
So, where does people's dislike for pre-made dishes come from?
Perhaps you've heard some people complain that today's food is full of "technology and artificial additives." Indeed, to extend shelf life, maintain texture and flavor, and improve appearance, pre-made dishes often contain various chemical compounds. Although these additives are considered safe in legally permitted amounts, the potential long-term health effects of consuming them in large quantities remain a concern for many.
Additionally, aside from additives, pre-made dishes are often heavily seasoned to cater to popular tastes and mask the potential loss of flavor due to industrial production. This can easily lead to consumers ingesting excessive amounts of sodium, fat, and sugar, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular conditions. In contrast, some nutrients may be lost during prolonged storage, meaning pre-made dishes may not be as nutritious as freshly prepared meals.
Luo also raised questions about the ingredients themselves. Admittedly, if pre-made dishes are used, consumers naturally cannot see the original ingredients, so it's reasonable for them to have concerns about the source and quality of the meat and vegetables used by manufacturers.
Some people are not opposed to pre-made dishes themselves, but become frustrated when they see the prices. As products that are mass-produced, easy to transport, and store, pre-made dishes should logically be cheaper. However, some restaurants sell them at higher prices than freshly cooked dishes. This might be one of the reasons for Luo's frustration: in his view, some of Xibei's dishes simply shouldn't be priced so high.
Take the famous Japanese Italian-style restaurant Saizeriya as an example. Almost all of Saizeriya's dishes have the characteristics of pre-made food, but they are priced very low, and the restaurant makes no secret of the fact that their dishes only require simple preparation. They even promote their semi-finished grilled chicken wings and sweet shrimp to customers—how confident!
Of course, pre-made dishes play a significant role in chain restaurants, since they not only help control costs but also ensure quality control and basic hygiene. Given that the definition of pre-made dishes is still not entirely clear, it's difficult to directly judge who is right between Luo and Jia. However, one thing is certain: some are currently profiting from the cost difference between pre-made and freshly cooked dishes. Luo's claim may not be entirely accurate, but he must have encountered plenty of frustrating situations to speak out like this.
Here's hoping that businesses can be honest with their customers and not drive away those who would otherwise support them.
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