Update | Five Husi bosses quizzed by police over 'rotten meat' scandal, as 1,250 tonnes of food seized
Authorities widen investigation to include some of the largest foreign-owned restaurant chains and convenience store franchises
Shanghai police were today questioning five executives of the meat processing company at the centre of a scandal involving out-of-date meat used in fast food products.
Preliminary investigations concluded that the food company is suspected of illegal production and operation, according to a joint investigation team by China's food safety watchdog and police.
Investigators have seized a total of 160 tonnes of raw meat as well as 1,107 tonnes of Husi Food products, and the case is under further investigation, Shanghai municipal government said on its website.
Investigators also found a client list of Hsui, which involves nearly 150 companies. Police did not reveal the full list but said it was handed over to the food safety watchdog.
“We uncovered some illegal acts from the company, which are not conducted by individuals but planned and organised by the company,” Gu Zhenhua, the deputy director of Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration, told Xinhua.
Police have been interviewing executives from 22 companies that bought meat from Husi, Xu Wei, a spokesman for the Shanghai municipal government, said yesterday.