Harsher safety measures urged amid scandal

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Legal experts and industry insiders are calling for more stringent legislation on food safety after a scandal involving the Shanghai Husi Food Co.

The company, owned by the US-based OSI Group, has been accused of mixing fresh and long-expired meat products. The food safety scandal has spread across the country, entangling many international fast-food brands, including McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks.

The case comes as China is attempting the first revision of the Food Safety Law, which took effect in 2009.

"Food safety is an important issue concerning public health and people's livelihoods. In Shanghai, whoever the violator is, they will be strictly punished," the city's Party chief, Han Zheng, said at a work conference on Sunday.

Government departments should strictly supervise every key point in the supply chain, said Han, who praised the media's important role in uncovering the Husi case.

Shanghai lawyer Yan Yiming said, "We hope that the penalties for food safety offenders can be increased as the country revises the law." An industry insider, who declined to be named, said: "Over past years, punishment for food safety violators has been increased but it still lags far behind that in developed countries. There should be much higher punishment for offenders."

Five people have been detained by police in connection with the case.

In a statement on its website late on Saturday, the OSI Group said it will withdraw all products made by Shanghai Husi from the market. The group said it is conducting a thorough internal investigation and will "take swift and decisive action" against those responsible.

The group also said it had sent a new management team to China to ensure that operations run effectively.

Questions:

1. Who owns Shanghai Husi Food Co.?

2. Who is the Shanghai Party chief?

3. What did the OSI Group say late Saturday on its website?

Answers:

1. OSI Group

2. Han Zheng

3. It will withdraw all products made by Shanghai Husi from the market.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.