February 24, 2009
China arrests three on contaminated pork case
Officials in Guangdong Province have arrested three people as a result of the contaminated pork issue that has sickened at least 70 people.
The three people were detained on suspicion of involvement in raising and selling the contaminated pork.
The tainted pork were bought from markets in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong Province, and came from farms in neighbouring Hunan province, state media said.
The pork products were contaminated with clenbuterol, an illegal animal feed additive that is used to prevent animals from gaining fat. However, clenbuterol is known to be harmful to humans and can even be fatal.
The consumers were hospitalised for stomach aches and diarrhoea, with three remaining in the hospital for further observation, said Wang Guobin, an official with the Guangzhou Municipal Public Health Bureau.
