TV report on cardboard buns 'fabricated'

A TV report earlier this month that purportedly showed a Beijing seller using softened chopped cardboard as the main ingredient in steamed buns has been dismissed as false news.

The Beijing municipal government said last night that investigations had found an employee surnamed Zi with Beijing Television fabricated and directed the sensational program for higher audience ratings. Zi is being held under criminal custody.

The program, broadcast on July 8 on Beijing TV Life Channel, featured the maker of the buns - or baozi - talking about how the product was made and sold in the capital's sprawling Chaoyang District.