February 12, 2008

Steroid fears prompt US Olympic team to bring own meats to China
 

Despite the Chinese government's assurances on the strictest food safety standards for Olympic athletes, the US Olympic team will be shipping their own meats to the Beijing Olympics in August.

A caterer for the US Olympic team who was in China last year found chicken breasts sold in supermarkets so full of steroids that an athlete would have tested positive for it had he/she eaten the chicken, the New York Times reported.

As China adopts a more permissive level of veterinary drug and insecticide levels in its foods than the US, the US Olympic committee has opted to provide catering for the 600-strong team during the event.

US meat supplierTyson will ship a total of 9,000 kilogrammes of protein for the team. The meats include beef, chicken and pork. The team caterer will also arrive in China two months before the main event to ensure things are in running order.

However, the US team would only bring their own meats and local caterers will be supplying other foods and equipment. Some of the foods would also be imported from countries outside China such as seafood from Japan and fruits from Australia.  

Tyson is even providing athletes with hot pots, power adapters and pouches of chicken to last them through the Games. 

Contaminated wheat gluten imported from China was thought to be responsible for dozens of deaths in pets in the US last year. The case sparked a series of other incidents which brought to light the questionable safety standards in Chinese goods. In response China embarked on a highly visible campaign to stamp out shoddy production.