China Food Safety Scares: If you're into Chinese food, you might have second thoughts after reading this: Fast food stores like KFC and McDonald's were sold expired beef and chicken by distributors Husi Food Co. Not only that, the food supplier covered up that expiry dates on the meat by applying new stickers carrying new expiration dates.
At the same time, it's also true that almost everyone, particularly kids, enjoy a McDonald's burger and fries or KFC chicken on occasion; it is now a lifestyle habit for working parents. So, how is money being made at the expense of expired food in China, when the country also boasts delicacies and gourmet food including sea urchins, monkey brains, snakes and amphibians not eaten in the West.but eaten safely and with great enthusiasm in China.
China's Food and Drug Administration, similar to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S., has suspended use of meat from Husi Food, but this is not just about one supplier. One of the top government health officials was arrested for failing food safety standards and several corrupt officials have committed suicide over allegations of food safety in the last two to three years.
Dragon TV claims that Husi, is a subsidiary of OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois, and that repackaged old beef and chicken were sold to Pizza Hut restaurants as well. USA Today reported that old meat from the supplier has caused problems in Japan, which confirmed that McDonald's Chicken McNuggets were made using Husi's repackaged meat. Burger King, Starbucks and Papa Johns' have also stopped using meat from this distributor.
USA Today said at issue was a 'warning signal flashing for the world's largest fast-food brands in the world's biggest growth market. Food safety concerns, taken very seriously by Chinese consumers, have now spread to the major American brands that many Chinese consumers presumed were above that. Suddenly, giants such as McDonald's, Yum Brands and Starbucks have to earn back the trust of consumers in a growth market where they can least afford image damage."
