蘋果公司發布2011年度的「供應商責任進展報告」，要求中國的供應商在勞工的職業損傷方面，應擔負起工人健康安全的社會責任，不過這份報告被大陸媒體視為蘋果的一大醜聞，予以負面報導。蘋果公司第一次在中國遭受了負面新聞的風暴襲擊。
蘋果公司在這份25頁的報告中，詳細披露了2010年「蘋果」對「富士康自殺事件」的調查過程，也公開向外界證實，「蘋果」在華供應商「聯建（中國）科技有限公司」的137名工人「因暴露於正己烷（Hexane）環境，健康遭受不利影響」。「蘋果」認定「聯建科技」在生產中存在嚴重違規，要求供應商必須立刻糾正，保證工人的健康、安全及人權。蘋果公司會持續跟蹤供應商的改正和預防措施。
雖然這不是蘋果第一次發布「供應商責任進展報告」，但因此在中國遭受「負面新聞」卻是第一次。大陸媒體紛紛報導「毒蘋果」、「蘋果神話落幕」；或將「蘋果」與「血汗工廠」相提並論；而有些媒體乾脆將「聯建科技」的中毒工人直接稱為了「蘋果員工」。
事實上，「聯建科技」的中毒工人並非蘋果員工，「聯建科技」也只是蘋果的一個普通供應商而已，不只是為蘋果一家公司供貨。
由於蘋果對「聯建」訂購的手機顯示屏質量要求嚴格，稍有瑕疵就無法通過驗收，因此，為了降低次品率，「聯建科技」要求一個生產車間使用了比酒精便宜的「正己烷」作為清洗劑，進行擦拭顯示屏作業。
正己烷對人體有危害性，導致部分員工出現頭暈、手腳麻木等中毒症狀。
與蘋果的大量負面新聞相反，很少有大陸媒體提到事件中讓工人使用「正己烷」的供應商「聯建科技」，以及蘇州地方政府管理部門應該在事件中負起怎樣的責任。
蘋果坦誠調查結果，並要求供應商擔負起最高標準的社會責任，卻受到了中國媒體的圍剿。
英國《金融時報》特約撰稿人信海光撰文說，「蘋果」的尷尬遭遇頗像幾年前發生在南京的「彭宇事件」，彭宇由於好心幫助受傷的徐老太，卻惹來一身官司。對當代中國人的道德信念造成不小的衝擊。之後，在很多城市都發生過老人跌倒沒有人敢出手相助的悲劇事件。而這次「蘋果」因為高調宣示「供應鏈社會責任」而引發的負面效果，或許也會影響到其他跨國公司未來在中國踐行「供應鏈社會責任」的態度與力度。
Apple』s safety efforts received negative media coverage in China
Apple releases its 2011 Supplier Responsibility
Progress Report, requesting its Chinese suppliers
to take responsibilities regarding workplace safety.
The report received negative Chinese media coverage
becoming Apple』s first scandal in China.
In the 25-page report, Apple gave details of the
investigation on the 2010 「Foxconn suicide」 incident,
and affirmed 137 workers at Wintek Corp,
another one of Apple's suppliers, 「suffered adverse
health effects following exposure to hexane」.
「Apple considered this series of incidents to be a core
violation for worker endangerment," the report said.
Apple requested remedial actions and will follow up
on the safety measures of its suppliers.
http://news.sina.com.cn/green/news/roll/2011-02-21/171321989467.shtml
This report marked the first time Apple received
negative media coverage in China.
Phrases such as 「poisoned Apple」, 「the end of the
Apple legend」, and 「Apple sweatshop」 appear
frequently in news reports. Some even refer to the
poisoned workers at Wintek as 「Apple employees」.
The poisoned workers at Wintek are in fact not
employees of Apple, and Wintek Corp is only Apple』s
contractor that also supplies to many other companies.
Because Apple implements strict quality control,
in order to lower defective loss, Wintek used hexane
instead of more expensive alcohol as cleaning agent,
causing harm to some of its employees』 health.
On the contrary, the responsibilities of Wintek,
as well as the local government agencies,
are seldom mentioned in the news.
Apple』s transparency in investigation
and efforts in implementing workplace safety
has become the target of attack by Chinese media.
Xin Haiguang, special correspondent of the
Financial Times wrote: Apple』s situation is similar
to the 「Peng Yu incident」 in Nanjing 2 years ago.
Peng Yu』s was sued for helping an injured old lady,
which greatly affected the morals of Chinese people.
Today Apple』s procurement of 「supply chain social
responsibility」 is reflected negatively, which may
affect other foreign companies』 attitude and effort in
ensuring 「supply chain social responsibility」 in China.
