Expired Meat Sold to KFC and McDonald's in China

A supplier in China sold expired beef and chicken to local outlets of McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut. According to AP, Shanghai-based news channel, Dragon TV reported on Sunday that Shanghai Husi Food Co., Ltd. — which is owned by Aurora, Illinois-based OSI Group — "repackaged old beef and chicken and put new expiration dates on them." Quartz adds that often the beef and chicken were sold as a year beyond their expiry dates.

The report also found that in the month of June, 18 tons of chicken skin that was at least half a month past its expiration date was used for chicken nuggets, and that beef that expired over a month before was used for KFC burgers. According to the South China Morning Post, the Dragon TV footage shows employees of Shanghai Husi "picking up food from the floor and throwing it into processing machines." Workers also told Dragon TV that while the meat smelled off, "eating it wouldn't kill you."

The AP writes that the Shanghai office of China's food and drug agency is "investigating and told customers to suspend use of the supplier's products." The agency notes on its website that "at present, the company has been sealed and suspect products seized." Yum Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, notes that they are conducting their own investigation and McDonald's has "sealed 4,500 cases of beef, pork, chicken, and other products supplied by Husi for investigation."

in 2012, KFC in China was hit with another supplier scandal. State television reported that some poultry suppliers had violated drug use rules and had been feeding chickens illegal drugs to fatten them up.

· McDonald's, KFC In China Face New Food Scandal [AP]
· KFC, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's are Hit [Quartz]
· All China Coverage on Eater [-E-]