Drug-fattened chicken report stings chains

Two of the best-known US fast-food chains were certainly not "lovin' it" on the mainland last week after a state television exposé thrust them to the fore of the country's heated debate over food safety.

The undercover investigation by China Central Television found that two Shandong chicken suppliers for KFC and McDonald's fed their chickens excessive hormones and antibiotics to reduce premature deaths and make them plump enough to butcher at just 40 days old. The chickens reportedly gained 2.5kg within 40 days of receiving appetite stimulants, such as dexamethasone, and at least 18 antibiotics, including some recommended only for human use, such as Ribavirin.

Butchering companies simply fabricated results when testing the meat for quality, the CCTV report said.

KFC, which receives 44 per cent of its annual revenue from China, quickly announced that it had stopped purchasing from the supplier and promised to co-operate fully with authorities.

McDonald's, which has already faced claims this year that it was selling food past its expiry date on the mainland, said costumers could "rest assured" chicken served at its restaurants was safe.

The CCTV report was actually the second to raise the issue of fast-growing chickens. Just a few weeks back, another media outlet published a report claiming that another supplier used by the two restaurants was similarly preparing chickens for the butcher in 45 days.