Shanghai destroys last of expired meat

Expired meat products totaling 521.2 metric tons from the Shanghai Husi Food Co, which was involved in a food safety scandal last summer, have been destroyed.

Shanghai Husi Food Co is owned by OSI China, the Chinese arm of US food giant OSI Group. It was accused of supplying expired meat to fast-food giants, including McDonald's and Yum Brands, by a local television station in July 2014.

Food safety authorities launched an immediate investigation that led to the arrest of six senior executives and a nationwide product recall.

The outdated meat products were destroyed in Shanghai, Beijing and the provinces of Liaoning, Henan, Sichuan and Shandong under the supervision of local food safety departments.

The last batch of recalled products, 1,415 cases of expired meat, was destroyed in Shanghai on Sunday, according to the Shanghai Food Safety Administration.

All the problem products produced by Shanghai Husi have now been disposed of safely, an official said.

OSI China said earlier that Shanghai Husi has experienced significant financial and customer losses after the scandal.

"It was our expectation that they could resume their work as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, this will not be the case," OSI China said in September 2014, announcing wide layoffs.

A total of 340 workers were sacked - 226 employed directly by Shanghai Husi and 114 contractors, according to OSI China's website.

No one from OSI China could be reached for comment on Monday.

Food safety issues have troubled the country for many years, and authorities are looking to improve food safety levels. The draft revision to China's Food Safety Law, which toughens penalties for offenders, has been released to the public for consultation.

According to the draft, any offender who adds inedible substances to food products will be given five to 15 days' detention.

It also provides punishment for using expired material or additives in products, such as in the Shanghai Husi case.

Producers will be fined 10 to 20 times the total value of the products if it exceeds 10,000 yuan ($1,625). For products worth less than 10,000 yuan, the fine will be 50,000 to 100,000 yuan.

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/06/2015 page4)