China aims to clamp down on clenbuterol

Local Chinese authorities should clamp down on illegal additives in pig feed. The country's ministry of agriculture issued a circular with this advice.

The notice comes soon after 336 people in Shanghai had to be hospitalised after eating contaminated pork. The pork contained traces of clenbuterol, used to obtain leaner pig meat.

Officially, the additive has been banned for years but in some regions it is a well-known secret that it is still used. Therefore, local watchdogs should enhance supervision to ensure product safety.

In most areas of China, pork is safe, the ministry emphasised. The licenses of enterprises producing food products containing banned medicine should be cancelled and inspections should be carried out in key areas, the ministry said.

Editor PigProgress