Rat Meat Sold as Lamb in China

According to the New York Times, 63 people have been arrested in China after selling rat, fox, mink and other meat as lamb. The meat had been doused in gelatin, red pigment and nitrates and had not undergone inspection prior to sales.

The arrests were part of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security’s nationwide operation that began in January to crackdown on food safety violations.  Authorities have arrested 904 people and have broken up 1,721 illicit facilities, workshops, and shops due to suspected sales of fake, diseased, toxic or adulterated meat. Despite these arrests the ministry stated that diners still have reason to worry.

In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has taken actions to improve caution over imported foods, according to an FDA spokeswomen. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FASMA) allows the FDA to hold imported foods to the same safety standards as domestic foods.

“Fraudulent adulteration of food products can pose a threat to consumers’ health and safety, and therefore food manufacturers should test their products and comply with regulations,” states Dr. Jason Dobranic, EMSL Analytical Inc.’s Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences. “EMSL Analytical now offers food authenticity testing for a variety of products, including meats, to assure consumers protection against fraudulent practices in the food industry.”

For more information on EMSL’s food testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, email info@emsl.com , or visit www.EMSL.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com