Recently, fast-food chains in China have been receiving a lot of bad press after a Chinese television station revealed some McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants were stocked with spoiled meat. The popular fast-food chains allegedly received shipments of rotten meat from a supplier known as Shanghai Husi Food Co., the Chinese branch of Illinois-based OSI Group. Authorities believe the shipment occurred after senior management at Shanghai Husi sent an email asking employees to set back the expiration date on certain batches of meat by 10 days. This caused already or soon-to-be spoiled meat to be packaged and sent out to restaurants. [icopyright one button toolbar]
Since the initial incident, stock shares for many fast-food chains in China have fallen, and many customers are hesitant to return to the restaurants. A number of Chinese citizens previously thought Western fast-food chains were safe, as they believed they followed the stricter food-safety standards of western Europe and the United States. According to USA Today, some Chinese have gone so far as to swear off restaurants entirely and have vowed to eat only what they prepare in their own kitchens. Here are further details on why the incident has frightened so many and how China may prevent such scares in the future.
Rotten Meat Across China
While some claim the bad meat shipments from Shanghai Husi were an isolated incident, the rotten meat made its way into a shockingly high number of restaurants. Restaurants like KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King and even Starbucks may have received rotten meat shipments. Even some restaurants in Japan, where about 20 percent of McDonald’s receive shipments from Shanghai Husi, could be affected.
Fortunately authorities have taken necessary precautions after realizing the food could be tainted. Restaurants owners immediately recalled affected menu items and many vowed never to order from Shanghai Husi in the future. As of right now, more than 160 tons of raw meat and 1,100 tons of prepared food have been confiscated as a precaution.
What Happens if You Eat Rotten Meat
Had all of the rotten meat been consumed, the consequences could have been dire. Numerous harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, staphylococcus, salmonella, bacillus and clostridium, thrive on rotten meat. Cooking meat to 150 F will kill salmonella and E. coli, but when E. coli grows it produces toxins that may not be removed by cooking. Staphylococcus is similar – heat will kill the bacteria but not the toxins it leaves behind. Bacillus and clostridium are also neutralized during cooking but they leave behind poisonous spores.
Consuming any of these toxins can lead to severe nausea, fever, cramping and diarrhea. In some instances it can even cause death.
Chinese Food Safety
China’s become a more popular travel destination in recent years, but you may want to hold off investing in prefab homes there for now. Although China has definitely become a more modern country, its food-safety policies are outdated to say the least. The Chinese government has fairly lax restaurant inspections and almost always gives restaurants advanced notice of an inspection. Punishments for violations are also little more than a slap on the wrist.
Although quality assurance for food safety is lacking, perhaps this scandal could motivate the government to change its policies. Already, China has detained five employees from Shanghai Husi who supposedly allowed the rotten meat shipment to take place. We can only hope that China will take food safety much more seriously in the future.
Who do you think is to blame for the fast-food scandal in China? Shanghai Husi obviously provided the rotten meat, but shouldn’t someone have caught it before it reached the restaurants? Do you think the Chinese government or the food chains themselves are more at fault?
Image by Joey