Metro and Carrefour stores forced to recall substandard food products

Two outlets of Metro and Carrefour are being investigated by district market watchdogs for selling substandard food products, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday.

Dried shredded squid sold at the Jiading outlet of Metro was found to contain excessive NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine), which is toxic to the liver and other organs.

More than 20 packs of the squid have been sold, according to the Jiading District Market Supervision and Management Bureau. The outlet was ordered to stop sales of the food immediately, make a recall and rectify the problem. 

Shanghai Mingfen Co Ltd, the producer of the squid which has sold 1,000 packs to its retailers, was also ordered to make a recall and is being investigated by the Songjiang District Market Supervision and Management Bureau.

The substandard squid was produced in February.

Eggs branded Jiafeng sold at the Gongjiang outlet of Carrefour in Baoshan District were found to contain florfenicol, which is used as a medicine to treat bacterial diseases in pigs, chickens and fish, and is approved by the Ministry of Agriculture. However, it is not allowed to be used in laying poultry due to residue in eggs.

The outlet has sold 40 packs of the substandard eggs, and a recall was ordered. The Baoshan District Market Supervision and Management Bureau is making further investigations into the outlet.