The Ministry of Agriculture told a conference in Beijing on
Tuesday that a new inspection system will be established this year
to protect consumers from clenbuterol, a dangerous and illegal
fodder additive.
Vice Minister Yin Chengjie said the safety of fodder is of great
importance to people's health and should be strictly
supervised.
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According to the ministry, livestock feed will be checked not only
where it is produced but also where it is consumed, and the results
will be released to the public.
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Clenbuterol hydrochloride is a stimulant known as shouroujing
(literally 'lean meat essence') in Chinese and is used by some
farmers to increase the body mass of pigs.
It has been used to treat respiratory diseases in animals, and
is one of many substances used by some bodybuilders and athletes to
improve performance.
According to Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department, consumption of clenbuterol-tainted food can result in
dizziness, headache, hand tremor, palpitation and agitation, with
more serious side effects for people with heart disease.
It tends to accumulate in internal organs, making lungs, livers,
kidneys and other offal from pigs fed with clenbuterol particularly
dangerous.
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Yin said the ministry and public security departments have
organized several operations to crack down on the practice of
adding it to fodder.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2005)