▲The "leftover blind box" in the bakery is still "fresh", and there are still two days left in the shelf life. (Photo by Hong Nana)

▲The reporter bought a "blind box of leftovers" with a price of 6.0 yuan, 0 sandwiches and tea eggs produced and sold on the day of harvest, and a bottle of fresh milk that expired after 0 days. (Photo by Hong Nana)

▲ "Leftover Blind Box" is loved by young people (Li Jing screenshot)

Expiration product counters and discount counters in supermarkets (photo by Li Jing)

This newspaper (financial media reporter Li Jing) everything can be blind box, this time it is the turn of "leftovers". In Quanzhou, "blind boxes of leftovers" are quietly emerging, and merchants will randomly combine unsold food before the expiration date or close on the same day into "blind boxes" to sell to consumers at a discount. Because it saves money, is fun and environmentally friendly, the "leftover blind box" is favored by young people.

In the bakery, bread that can no longer be sold the next day is randomly packed together; In convenience stores, there are "free combinations" of milk, yogurt, rice balls, sandwiches and other expiring milk; In the snack shop, the originally expensive imported snacks are "mixed and matched" into blind bags and "leftovers" in blind bags ...... "leftovers blind boxes" because they are about to reach their expiration date, but are not leftover meals, but foods that are overproduced by merchants but cannot be sold, similar to expiring food. They are packaged into blind boxes and sold at a 5-0 discount from the original price. In Quanzhou, consumers' enthusiasm for "leftover blind boxes" continues to rise. "Every day, there are customers who place orders for 'leftover blind bags' through the mini program, and there are many customers who go directly to the store to buy discounted food." A clerk at a convenience store on West Street in Licheng District told reporters that there are many consumers who like "blind boxes of leftovers".

數據顯示，2025年，中國臨期食品市場規模預計將達401億元，越來越多的年輕人正被“剩菜盲盒”吸引。中研普華發佈的《2024—2029年臨期食品行業市場投資策略及前景預測研究報告》對全國範圍內的8000名消費者深度調研，在臨期食品的消費者中，25—40歲的占68%，本科及以上學歷的消費者佔54%，有62%的消費者每周購買臨期食品1—2次。

Why is the acceptance of "leftover blind boxes" so high? The reporter visited a number of bakeries and convenience stores selling "leftover blind boxes" in the central urban area of Quanzhou, and merchants and consumers frequently mentioned the two keywords of "cost-effective" and "no waste". Such a sales model not only allows merchants to reduce loss costs, reduce food waste, but also allows consumers to obtain cost-effective goods. There are also some consumers who want to experience the unknown surprises brought by the "blind box" out of curiosity.

With the continuous increase in the attention of "leftover blind boxes", consumers' attention to the food safety of expiring goods in blind boxes has also risen. Expiring food, usually refers to pre-packaged food that is about to reach its expiration date and has not exceeded its expiration date, and is generally edible. A few days ago, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued 9 national food safety standards and 0 standard modification lists, including a new "consumption shelf life" standard to reduce food waste. If the consumer does not finish the food within the shelf life after purchase, he or she can choose to continue to consume it within the "shelf life", provided that the food is stored in accordance with the storage conditions indicated on the label.

However, this does not mean that all expiring foods can be eaten without worry. The "leftover blind boxes" actually sold may cause food spoilage due to improper storage and other reasons, and there may also be expired food mixed in by unscrupulous merchants. When purchasing, consumers should carefully screen whether the food has discoloration, peculiar smell, mold, etc., and must not ignore potential food safety hazards due to low price and other reasons.

(See the 18th edition for related reports)