On July 8, Beijing Television's Life Channel broadcast breaking
news alleged that some Beijing bun makers might use filthy and
chopped cardboard as fillings to stuff their steamed buns. The
story provoked global concerns regarding China's food safety.
Yesterday the television station released a statement denying the
entire story.
Baozi, or Chinese steamed buns, are traditionally filled with
minced pork. They are a common snack across China. Last month
Beijing Television hired a hidden camera to "reveal" the making of
the cardboard baozi allegedly sold in Beijing's Chaoyang
District.
The footage showed a man and his assistants mixing together 60
percent cardboard with 40 percent fatty meat to make baozi
fillings.? This supposedly fooled average buyers, who were
said to be unable to taste the difference. This shocking report was
quickly scooped up by various Chinese and international media. Even
China Central Television aired the program nationwide last
Thursday.
But the television station announced yesterday that the story
was completely fabricated. They also apologized to the general
public.
After the program was aired, the statement said, the Beijing
Administration for Industry and Commerce and Municipal Food Safety
Department immediately sent investigators to thoroughly inspect and
examine the city's breakfast market. They never found any proof to
support the shocking story and the existence of the cardboard
baozi. Later Beijing municipal police joined in the investigation
and discerned the truth on July 16.
Beijing police confirmed that in mid-June, a temporary employee
of Beijing Television, surnamed Zi, twice visited a residence in
Chaoyang District. Zi told people there that he was buying
breakfast for his migrant workers. Then he delivered minced pork,
flour and cardboard that had been soaked in caustic soda to the
residence. Zi asked four male non-Beijing residents to make baozi
for him. He recorded the whole process with a DV camera, and later
edited the clip. Zi’s footage was intended to create a sensational
hoax because he wanted to gain higher ratings. When the television
station agreed to air the story, they didn't realize that his
footage was fraudulent.
Police said they have taken the suspect into criminal custody.
He will receive the severest legal punishment.
Beijing Television also apologized for failing to check the
authenticity of the report that has caused huge public outrage and
a negative social influence. The executives admitted that they had
learned a serious lesson from this incident. Beijing Television
executives affirmed that they would punish all involved staff while
simultaneously strengthening the administration. The station will
improve staff members’ professional ethics in order to avoid future
false stories.
But China's food safety is still a heated topic in the
international community these days. The US Food and Drug
Administration was criticized Tuesday by the US Congress regarding
several recent cases linked to "contaminated Chinese pet foods and
seafood imports.” Additionally, the Philippine's Bureau of Food and
Drugs is thoroughly examining over 800 registered food products,
including the very famous Chinese White Rabbit candy. It has been
alleged that some of the candy “contained formaldehyde".
A Shanghai candy manufacturer has issued a statement yesterday
to strongly denounce the Philippine's claims. The US Department of
Health and Human Services has set up a delegation to come to
Beijing in August in order to discuss relevant issues with Chinese
food safety regulators.
"Illegal exports are an important factor behind the increasing
food scare incidents related to China recently," Li Yuanping, an
official at the General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, said to Xinhua News Agency yesterday. Li
stressed that China has imposed extremely strict supervision
regarding exported goods. He noted that more than 99 percent of
Chinese exports have passed inspection.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Rui July 19, 2007)
