Beijing is hailing its efforts in the crackdown on illegal food additives, with a senior food-safety official telling state media that more than 5,000 companies have been shut down and more than 2,000 people punished.
'The crackdown on adding illegal additives and on the abuse of food additives since April has effectively contained the outbreak of such cases and achieved considerable results,' the official, from the General Office of the State Council's Food Safety Commission, was quoted as saying by Xinhua on Monday.
Among the cases, 120 involved the addition of clenbuterol - a chemical stimulant that reduces fat, encourages muscle growth and colloquially referred to as 'lean meat powder' - into feed for pigs. Some 980 people involved were detained.
'The campaign should not be given an excessively high appraisal,' the official warned. 'We cannot lower our guard or rest, and we must be aware of the complex, long-term nature of the food-safety problem and remain on high alert.'
So far this year, the authorities have uncovered sales of drug-tainted pork, bean sprouts treated with a carcinogenic chemical compound, expired buns dyed to make them look fresh, and sweet potato flour made with corn, ink and paraffin.
Following rising public anger and panic about such scandals, the State Council in April ordered local governments to clamp down on illegal additives used in the production of food. It also ordered the regulation of additive production, while calling for the building of a long-term supervisory mechanism and for industry self-discipline.