China finds hogs still fed with harmful chemicals

Many Chinese farmers continue to evade the ban on chemical additives in food for pigs, increasing the risk of disease and illness in humans, according to a report from the nation's top legislature.

 

The number of cases of people becoming sick from contaminated pork is on the rise due to weak links in the government's management of farming and safety standards, according to the report released Tuesday (Aug 25) from the National People's Congress Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

 

In February, more than 80 people in Guangdong province fell ill after consuming pig organs that were contaminated with an illegal feed additive called clenbuterol.

 

One of the largest food poisoning cases involving clenbuterol occurred in Shanghai in 2006 when 336 people were hospitalised after eating pork and pig organs contaminated with the additive.

 

Some farmers add clenbuterol to pig feed to keep the animals lean as leaner pork fetches a higher price in Chinese markets. However, it is harmful to human health and can be fatal since it often accumulates in organs such as the liver and lungs.

 

There is still illegal usage of clenbuterol and other banned chemicals, said Wang Yunlong, chairman of the committee.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a year-long crackdown on the supervision of the production, marketing and abuse of additives but the committee's report has now puts added pressure on the campaign to wipe out the practice.

 

This year, the ministry has exposed 8,677 cases of additive abuse, halted 124 companies without operating permits and cancelled 87 licensed enterprises in China.

 

According to statistics in 2007 from the China Meat Association, pork accounts for about 65 percent of the meat consumed in China and the per capita consumption has doubled in 16 years, starting from 1990.

 

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture showed that the price of pork in July this year fell 28.3 percent to reach RMB14.80 (US$2.17) per kilogram compared to the same period last year.

 

Meanwhile, the ministry Tuesday declined to provide the latest statistics on the number of cases of banned drugs or additives in pig farming that have been exposed so far this year.