China's Yurun recalls tainted luncheon meat

China Yurun Food Group, a major Chinese meat processor, has recalled 100 boxes of luncheon meat containing the banned chemical clenbuterol, according to media reports Thursday.

Yurun destroyed the products, made of unspecified minced meat from a slaughterhouse, a report said.

Farmers in China are known to feed pigs with clenbuterol to reduce their fat, but it is banned as a food additive because it can be fatal to humans. In March, Chinese authorities had arrested several people for selling pigs that were fed the chemical, causing at least 70 people to fall sick.

This recall is a fresh blow to the already damaged reputation of China's food industry, which has went through setbacks such as the 2007 tainted petfood case and last year's melamine-contaminated milk scandal.

A Yurun official said the company would soon release a statement about this matter.