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Business News/ Industry / No burgers at McDonald’s in China as outdated meat scare spreads
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No burgers at McDonald’s in China as outdated meat scare spreads

Beef, pork and chicken items eliminated at McDonald's after supplier recalls all products made at its Shanghai unit

OSI Group, which supplies customers including McDonald’s and KFC owner Yum! Brands, is accused of repackaging old meat as new. Photo: BloombergPremium
OSI Group, which supplies customers including McDonald’s and KFC owner Yum! Brands, is accused of repackaging old meat as new. Photo: Bloomberg

Shanghai: If you want a burger from McDonald’s Corp. in China’s biggest cities, you’ll have to get one made with fish.

Beef, pork and chicken items were eliminated at the US- based chain, after supplier OSI Group Llc recalled all products made at its Shanghai unit on Sunday. The Aurora, Illinois-based company, which supplies customers including McDonald’s and KFC owner Yum! Brands Inc., is accused of repackaging old meat as new.

The meat scare is fueling concerns that China has yet to ensure the safety of its food chain after years of government investigations and penalties. The latest episode, involving a foreign-owned company, suggests the problems affect even suppliers previously thought safe.

“We are now only offering a limited menu in our restaurants around the country," McDonald’s China unit said in an e-mailed statement today.

Calls to McDonald’s delivery dispatchers in Beijing and Shanghai on Monday confirmed that fish burgers are the only sandwiches available.

Hong Kong McDonald’s have pulled from their menus Chicken McNuggets, the McSpicy chicken filet, fresh corn cups, fresh iced fresh lemon, green salad and grilled chicken salad because those involved ingredients from OSI units in Guangzhou and Hebei, according to the restaurant’s website.

OSI was compelled to withdraw all products manufactured by Shanghai Husi and replace its management team in China, the company said yesterday in a statement on its website.

Repackaging meat

Initially, concern focused on Shanghai Husi meat following a 20 July report on local TV showing workers repackaging and selling chicken and beef past their sell-by dates. The recall has now spread to all products made by the Shanghai unit, including beef and pork.

Chinese authorities have ordered Shanghai Husi’s plant shut for allegedly selling expired products. The local police detained five people in connection with an investigation into the meat supplier, the Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration said in a 23 July statement.

The US-based food processor is recalling its Shanghai Husi products to help rebuild the trust of our customers and consumers, as well as to cooperate with the official investigatory process, according to its statement on Sunday.

New team

OSI said it had brought a new management team into China to ensure operations were run effectively. The food maker is also conducting an internal investigation into current and former senior management, it said in the same statement.

Shanghai’s party secretary Han Zheng, the city’s most senior leader, said authorities would be candid to the public about the investigation into Shanghai Husi. All companies that flouted the rules in Shanghai would be punished according to law, according to comments distributed by the local government, citing Han’s words at a briefing.

Shanghai Husi changed production dates of some meat pies, the Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration said. Almost 70% of the re-packaged pies had been sold, with the rest confiscated by the agency, it said in a statement on its website.

OSI, which is based about 40km from McDonald’s headquarters in the Chicago suburbs, has previously apologized to its customers, calling the case an isolated incident. Bloomberg

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Published: 28 Jul 2014, 02:34 PM IST
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