Society

Safety tests on the menu after meat scandal

By Jin Zhu (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-18 07:25

So far, no meat products in the city have been found to contain clenbuterol, said Liu Yaqing, deputy head of Beijing's municipal agriculture bureau.

By Thursday, meat products from Jiyuan Shuanghui had been taken off the shelves in many major supermarkets after they received suspension notices in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

In a branch of Ito Yokado, a Japanese-invested supermarket chain, products made by other companies affiliated to Shuanghui had also been moved to the side.

"No one came to purchase this morning and sales have fallen sharply during the past few days," said an unnamed employee.

Some customers said they no longer consider the meat producer a safe bet.

"I will never buy any of their products again, even if they have been tested and passed fit," said a female customer surnamed Ge.

Biggest worries

The top five of hot words and phrases connected to food in 2010 as picked by the public in an online poll conducted by foodmate.net.

1. Drainage oil

Drainage oil is oil that has been used for cooking by restaurants that is collected, recycled and used again by other eateries.

2. Price rises

The prices of some agricultural products, including apples, garlic, ginger and mung beans, hit record highs last year.

3. Trans fat

Trans fat, which some experts say is harmful to the heart and blood vessels, drew nationwide attention in 2010.

4. Condensed synthetic fragrance

A type of condensed synthetic fragrance called yidixiang, which literally means one-drop fragrance, aroused public concern after media reported that it was used by many restaurants and was harmful to health.

5. Melamine

Cases of melamine being found in dairy products reemerged in 2010.