April 27, 2009

China's Shanghai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is closely monitoring pork products in local markets as the illegal additive, clenbuterol, was found in processed pork in Anhui Province.

Anhui's FDA said this week that a batch of canned pork produced by Yurun Group and a batch of bacon produced by Hefei Laweisi Food Co, sold in Fuyang and Hefei respectively, were found to contain clenbuterol.

The FDA has ordered the recall and destruction of the contaminated products.

Meanwhile, Yurun said the contaminated products did not enter Shanghai market. The company added that the tainted pork used in the products came from a small butchery near Fuyang but later assured that most of their pork supplies come from their own butcheries and are safe.

Clenbuterol, a banned feed additive that some farmers used to prevent pigs from gaining fat, is harmful to human health and can be fatal.