Officials step up moves against 'zombie meat'

A crackdown on the illegal trade in smuggled frozen meat is being intensified after reports of expired and rotten supplies being brought into the country and served in restaurants.

On Sunday, the China Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Customs said they were stepping up their efforts to combat the smuggling of "zombie meat".

The action follows a report by a Xinhua News Agency correspondent in Hunan province that said customs authorities in 14 provinces and regions had broken up 14 criminal gangs involved in smuggling rotten meat. Officials were said to have seized more than 100,000 metric tons of such meat, including chicken wings, beef and pork.