In June 2026, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released a new supplementary food testing method specifically designed to detect a long-standing, hard-to-prove problem in the baijiu industry: the adulteration of sauce-aroma baijiu (jiangxiangxing baijiu) with edible alcohol .

According to the national standard (GB/T 10781.4—2024) that took effect in June 2025, sauce-aroma baijiu must be made solely from grains through solid-state fermentation and distillation. The direct or indirect addition of edible alcohol is strictly prohibited . In practice, however, some producers have used inexpensive shortcuts. So-called "raw blended" (shengchuan) liquor is a direct mix of edible alcohol, water, and flavorings, while "cooked blended" (shuchuan) liquor involves redistilling edible alcohol with discarded grain lees to mimic the aroma. The cost of such products can be as low as 2 to 6 yuan per kilogram . These adulterated products, often dressed in elaborate packaging, are sold at huge markups. In one major case, a gang sold "special supply" baijiu, which cost less than 14 yuan per box to produce, for 400-500 yuan per box .

The new testing method uses advanced technology to close this loophole. The "in situ ionization-high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry" (ASAP-TOF MS) technique directly analyzes the liquor without complex preparation . It creates a chemical "fingerprint" by detecting hundreds of trace flavor compounds. A pure, fermented sauce-aroma baijiu has a complete set of these microbial metabolites; a product adulterated with edible alcohol will lack many of these characteristic peaks. The method boasts an accuracy rate of 95-97% .

As a "supplementary food testing method," this is not yet a mandatory standard for all products, but a powerful tool for regulators for sample inspections and investigations . It serves as a crucial bridge between consumer demand for authentic products and the industry's need to build trust. For traditional producers, this technology is a welcome development that will protect their integrity. For those relying on cheap alcohol and deceptive marketing, the days of operating in the shadows are numbered. This new, science-based approach could prove to be a key step in restoring faith in one of China's most storied spirits.