Ice Cream Brand Stirs Controversy Over Products That Don't Melt

A Chinese ice cream brand responsible for "luxury" popsicles is under fire after videos of customers attempting—and failing—to melt them with extreme heat went viral.

One video that circulated on social media on Tuesday showed an individual holding the popsicle under the flame of a lighter, with temperatures reaching about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, Global Times reported.

The footage sparked concern from customers, many wondering if the popsicles were a safety concern due to potential additives making them unable to melt.

Chicecream

Founded in 2018 by Lin Sheng, Chicecream—known as Zhong Xue Gao in Chinese—is an ice cream brand located in Shanghai that is known for its price point.

The company issued a statement in response to the videos on Wednesday stating that its products are in accordance with national standards. The company added that it would be cooperating with police during the investigation.

In a statement posted to the popular Chinese social media site Weibo, the company wrote that "we believe that it is not scientific to judge the quality of ice cream by baking, drying or heating ice cream," Asia News Network reported.

What's Carrageenan?

The company wrote in the statement that the Salt Coconut ice cream—the flavor featured in the videos—contains more than 40 percent solid matter, while the national standard is 20 percent.

Although the ice cream is primarily made of various types of milk, some consumers voiced concerns over the use of carrageenan as a thickening agent.

According to Scientific American, carrageenan is a popularly used thickening agent within the food industry and has been utilized in traditional cooking for centuries. The agent is extracted from red seaweed native to the British Isles.

The Hermes of Ice Cream

Due to the brand's steep price, it is often referred to as "the Hermes of Ice Cream," with the most expensive flavor the company offers ringing in at nearly $10.

"This is its price," Sheng said in a June 2021 interview. "Take it or leave it."

Average Price of Ice Cream

According to Statistica, ice cream prices have been on the decline since peaking at $5.52 per half-gallon in 2011.

Experts believe that the decline in per capita consumption over the years has led to this price decline, with many consumers opting for "healthier" options.

Newsweek reached out to Chicecream for comment.

In June, Newsweek reported about a video that went viral for teaching people how to check an ice cream's freshness at the store. In another food hack, a food influencer went viral for showing how to revive stale bread, and another went viral for sharing a trick to keep avocados fresh.