Meituan has denied claims that it arranged for a delivery rider to fly from China to Singapore to fulfil an order for curry puffs, according to thestar.com.my.
The denial follows viral social media posts suggesting that a rider travelled roughly 4,000 kilometres to deliver six curry puffs, a journey that reportedly would have cost around S$450 (US$335) for the flight alone. The story spread across multiple outlets, including The Straits Times, AsiaOne, South China Morning Post and Malay Mail, which all picked up the unusual claim.
The reports do not specify where the original post appeared or who first shared it, but the narrative quickly gained traction online. Meituan, one of China’s largest food delivery platforms, responded by stating that cross-border delivery of this kind is not a service it offers, according to thestar.com.my.
The company’s denial appears aimed at shutting down speculation that it would absorb the cost of an international flight for a single small order. Curry puffs, a savoury pastry snack popular in Singapore and Malaysia, are widely available locally for a few dollars, making the alleged delivery both impractical and financially nonsensical.
The incident highlights how easily fabricated or exaggerated stories can spread across social media, particularly when they involve well-known brands and seemingly absurd logistics. It also underscores the pressure on companies to respond quickly to viral claims, even when those claims appear implausible on their face.
What to watch next: whether any further evidence emerges to support the original claim, or if the story fades as another unverified internet rumour.
