Local media said most of the 278 people were treated and released on
Thursday, but about twelve remained under observation.
According to these reports, symptoms included dizziness, fatigue, a racing
pulse and muscle spasms, pointing to contamination with the steroid clenbuterol.
However, experts within the city's food and drug supervision commission were
waiting for the result of tests on blood samples from victims.
China has banned the use of clenbuterol as a pig-feed additive. The
additive is often used as an illegal performance-enhancing drug by
track-and-field athletes, as it is used to help build muscles.
Unclear remains where the meat came from, but said about half the victims
had consumed it at a cafeteria in Shanghai's Pudong district. Poor sanitation
and lax supervision of the food industry lead to many yearly occasions of food
poisoning victims in China.
