Beijing to perform blanketing fast-food inspection
- By Zhang Junmian
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 26, 2012
Beijing health authorities will soon begin comprehensive inspections on all fast food outlets in the municipality to ensure food safety, according to reports by People's Daily on Monday.
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McDonald's has suspended operations at the outlet in question, located in the Sanlitun area in Beijing. [chinanews.com] |
Management of several well-known fast food chains in Beijing, including McDonald's, were invited for meetings with Beijing's health watchdog, who ordered the fast food chains to strictly adhere to food safety laws and regulations and strengthen their food safety protocols. According to the regulations, it is strictly forbidden to add non-edible substances, to make food with non-edible and recycled materials, and to procure, process and sell expired food.
Violators will be exposed immediately, the health officials said, and severe offenses that constitute crime charges will be transferred to public security organs for investigation and prosecution.
An official with the law-enforcement supervision department at Beijing's health watchdog said: Food operators are given a time limit to correct such mishaps as failing to retain complete records, certificates or invoices in the procurement of food materials.
For more serious violations, those found to use non-edible substances will have their business licenses revoked. Criminal offenders who cheat consumers by using food additives and flavorings to cover up food deterioration and other such abuses will be prosecuted and receive severe penalties in accordance with the law.
In addition to more stringent and regular inspections, the city's health authorities will also launch an electronic supervision system at large-scale eateries to monitor and track incidents related to food safety in real time.
The public showed great concern over the food and management irregularities at McDonald's and French retail Carrefour, as well as other foreign establishments, as uncovered by CCTV.
McDonald's has since made an apology and suspended operations at the outlet in question, located in the Sanlitun area in Beijing.
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