Yesterday (Sep 15), Xibei issued an apology letter addressing the controversy; however, the letter itself has also proven to be controversial, so let's take a look at just what's going on. Xibei's Initial ResponseXibei's founder, Jia Guolong, acknowledged using central kitchens and pre-prepared components, a common industry practice, but contended that these do not meet the official regulatory definition of "pre-made dishes." Xibei then published operation manuals for 13 dishes involved in Luo’s criticism. Xibei's Sep 15 ApologyIn response to the ongoing online backlash, Xibei issued an apology yesterday (Sep 15). What the Backlash Shows OverallThe backlash highlights a growing consumer trend in China: a strong dislike for “pre-made” dishes, a widely used practice in many restaurants, and a demand for genuinely fresh food.