They Said It Was Lamb Skewers, But It Was Cat Meat... Another Food Controversy Erupts in China

In Jiangsu Province, eastern China, 1,000 cats that were about to be disguised and sold as pork or lamb were rescued.

On the 24th (local time), CNN and other outlets reported, citing local Chinese media, that Chinese judicial authorities, responding to tips from animal rights activists, intercepted a vehicle transporting the cats.

According to reports, the cats were originally planned to be processed into pork skewers, lamb skewers, sausages, and the like. Fortunately, due to the authorities' intervention, they were moved to a nearby animal shelter. It has not yet been determined whether these cats were feral or owned pets.

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Earlier, animal rights activists discovered several cats trapped in wooden boxes near a local cemetery and investigated their destination. Upon confirming that the cats were headed to a slaughterhouse, they immediately reported it to the public security bureau.

One animal rights activist explained, "One pound (0.45 kg) of cat meat can be disguised as pork or lamb and sold for about 4 dollars (approximately 5,400 won)," adding, "One cat yields 4 to 5 pounds of meat." Another activist criticized, "Some people will do anything as long as it is profitable."

Following the revelation of this incident, posts expressing concern about animal rights and food safety have continued on Chinese social networking services (SNS).

China reportedly has laws regarding livestock and endangered animals, but there are no laws addressing animal abuse related to stray dogs or street cats.

CNN stated, "China has long been controversial over food safety issues," adding, "Recently, a rat’s head was found in a university cafeteria meal. Local investigators claimed it was a 'duck neck,' but authorities concluded it was a 'rat’s head.'"

Amid controversy over a video exposing urination on raw materials at the Tsingtao Brewery, one of China's four major beers, Tsingtao beer is displayed at a supermarket in downtown Seoul on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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This is not the first food-related controversy in China. Recently, a video showing urination on beer ingredients at a Qingdao beer production factory sparked outrage.

On the 19th, a video was posted on Weibo showing a man wearing a helmet and work clothes entering the malt storage area, a raw material for beer, at Qingdao’s third factory in Pingdu City, Shandong Province, and apparently urinating there.

[Image source=Captured from Hongseong Newspaper]

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The video shows him climbing over a shoulder-high wall exposed on all sides, entering the area where the raw materials were piled, looking around, and urinating. As the video spread, Qingdao Beer’s stock price plummeted amid consumer backlash.

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