Pork with toxic lymph nodes and fatty tumors is banned in food production by rules but has been found in steamed buns in east China's Shandong Province where food stall owners used substandard meat to cut costs.

The food store can only make money using inferior pork bought at half price because pork prices have skyrocketed recently, a steamed bun stall owner in Binzhou City told the Beijing Morning Post yesterday.

The same practice was also discovered in the cities of Zibo and Tai'an in the province. After the bad meat was minced and mixed with sauces, bun eaters couldn't taste the difference, the report said.

Substandard pork is in big demand in the food market and slaughterhouses are saving it for long-time customers.

The section of meat between the pig's head and torso contains a lot of toxic lymph nodes, fatty tumors and glands. Their hormones, bacteria and virus can't be totally destroyed in cooking and may cause sick symptoms. This part of pork is not allowed for sale by food safety rules.