China’s Fake Culture: Counterfeit Apple Stores, Plastic Rice, Olive Oil & Honey

Countries around the world know that counterfeit products are coming out of China. There are copycat brands like knockoff Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach, and Gucci; fake bags; fake watches; fake electronics; and fake clothes. But did you know that full-blown fake retail stores have been popping up in China, like “Apple Stores” that look completely real (well, aside from spelling “store” as “stoer”)? Imitation technology doesn’t end there: Recently, 100,000 fake AirPods were confiscated. This goes way beyond physical, luxury products into products we consume, as well. Ever heard of fake, plastic rice, “honey” that’s really just high fructose corn syrup with flavoring, fake eggs, and even walnuts made with rocks?

Shockingly, one of the worst fake foods that people aren’t talking about is fake olive oil. And these aren’t just some obscure brands of olive oil; it reportedly goes as far as the olive oil being sold at Costco and Whole Foods Market. But how can you tell what the real brands are—which are made in Italy or Greece—compared to forgeries from China?

Well, join Ben and Rob from Edge of Wonder on this Friday Night Live as they reveal which brands to generally avoid, which ones are typically good, and how to distinguish real honey from the fake stuff. Then stick around for the Top 10 Weirder News of the Week with hilarious stories: A Tesla car sees ghosts. Elmo asks how everyone is doing on X (Twitter) and the vibes are NOT good. Dead birds are being turned into Drone Zombies? And more! Also, don’t miss the “Dig Deep” live Q&A .

Q&A: “Why do some animals like to meditate with humans so much?” “Can Ben skip?” “What do you think of ‘duplication glitches,’ people finding two of something they own? I once found my own driver’s license in my backyard and there was still one in my bag!” “Do you think China [CCP] is getting some of their karma thrown back at them?” “You helped change my life through Edge of Wonder. How much feedback do you get from other viewers regarding impact you’ve had on their lives?” “Do you think some people can be reptilians without being aware of it? Will they just be narcissists who keep hurting other people to get energy from them?” “Have you ever experienced time dilation or had a ‘missing time’ experience?”

Top 10 Weirder News of the Week:

10. A rare Star Wars toy is found in a loft—and it’s 45 years old. How much did it sell for?

9. The ancient remains of a terrifying “hell chicken” dinosaur are discovered.

8. A man tragically dies after consuming a poisonous birthday present.

7. Evidence of multiple, lost, prehistoric societies is uncovered.

6. Michael Cassidy beheaded The Satanic Temple’s Baphomet statue in Iowa, and is now charged with hate crimes.

5. Ancient human footprints are miraculously found perfectly preserved on a Moroccan beach.

4. Rare footage from inside North Korea sheds light on what happens when teens are caught secretly watch K-drama videos.

3. A power outage hits much of downtown Toronto because of this unexpected culprit.

2. Elmo’s account on X (Twitter) asks, “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” and people are hilariously, brutally honest with their replies.

1. A Tesla car detects ghosts in a graveyard—and it’s not the first time it’s happened.