In the latest vulgar display of China’s growing purchasing power, a video of two Chinese proxy buyers brawling over milk powder outside a Dutch supermarket recently went viral, much to netizens’ amusement.
According to Kankannews, the incident took place on November 18. While its not clear exactly what brought tensions to such a boiling point, in the video the pair begin arguing with each other over the limited quantities of milk powder. After the man curses at his female counterpart, she retaliates by kicking him.
The dispute soon turns into a brawl, with the two trading blows with each other on the ground until several local residents and some Chinese friends intervened to break up the dispute.
The pair are currently being held by police as an investigation is carried out.
Following the collapse in consumer confidence after the 2008 Sanlu milk scandal, those with enough money often seek out imported baby formula. Many in Hong Kong and Australia are already familiar with the hordes of proxy buyers who travel abroad to buy up powder for sale back home. In the past few years the phenomena has begun to take hold in Europe.
Struggling to keep up with demand, Dutch retailers recently introduced rationing measures, limiting sales to one or two packs of formula per customer. Others set a minimum purchase amount on other groceries before allowing the sale of milk powder.
Likewise, although some Australian supermarkets have introduced buying limits. Australian supermarket shelves had been reportedly wiped out of baby milk formula ahead of this past Chinese Singles’ Day.
Watch the fight here:
By Lucy Liu
[Video via Kankannews]