Cheap meat being passed off as mutton, beef

A meat packing factory in Liaoyang, a city in Northeast China's Liaoning province, has been found out passing cheap duck meat with toxic additives as mutton and beef, Beijing Times reported on Monday.

The report said more than 40 tons of the meat as well as about a quarter of a ton of additives were seized at the factory by local police.

Some 8.69 grams per kilogram of sodium nitrite was detected in the detained meat products, far exceeding the national standard of 0.3 mg/kg in fresh meat and frozen meat, the report said.

In adults, an intake of 3 grams of sodium nitrite can cause death.

Police said they had recovered most of the tainted meat in the market, and none had been found in Beijing, the report said.

A total of 34 people involved in the scandal have been detained, it said.

Related stories:

KFC supplier used excessive additives in chicken feed

Shanghai barrs additives in restaurants' home-made beverages

China bans catering business from using nitrite as additive

Ministry to withdraw 38 food additives

Tougher penalties against illegal food additives