Xinhua, citing SAMR, reported that the regulator recently interviewed the responsible person at Walmart (China) Investment Co, which it described as Sam's Club's China headquarters. The notice said the action followed food-safety issues found over a period of time in offline stores and online shops.
The legal instruction was broad and procedural. Xinhua reported that SAMR told Walmart China to operate strictly under the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, as well as rules governing chain food retailers and online food sellers. China Daily said the regulator also called for stronger food-safety awareness, fuller implementation of retailer responsibilities and better risk prevention across the supply chain.
That wording matters. A regulatory interview, or yue tan, is an administrative pressure tool: it tells a company what the authority believes must change, and creates a record of warning and expected compliance. It is not, on the facts disclosed so far, a finding that a named batch of food was unsafe, nor a public penalty notice setting out a fine, confiscation order or licence sanction.
Reuters reported that the regulator ordered Sam's Club to eliminate food-safety risks throughout its supply chain and did not give the date of the meeting. South China Morning Post said it had reached out to Walmart for comment and had not received an immediate response.
Sam's Club later gave Chinese media a more direct acceptance of the regulator's demands. The 21st Century Business Herald, citing The Paper's report of a Sam's China response, said the company accepted the interview guidance, recognised the problems and rectification requirements, and had set up a special rectification working group led by management. The company said it would carry out self-inspection across channels and links, optimise food-safety controls and product quality management, report rectification progress to regulators and accept public supervision.