Watchdog fines companies for illegal food

Inspectors have exposed 12 cases of substandard food, including pistachio nuts sold by supermarket chain Metro and preserved plums sold on Tmall.

Jiada (Shanghai), dealer of a French ham was fined 75,000 yuan (US$11,000) by the Pudong New Area Administration for Market Regulation after the ham failed for colony numbers. The company had sold 216 packs and had more than 2,500 yuan  confiscated.

Shanghai First Food Chain Development Co Ltd, which sold preserved plums on Tmall, was fined 50,000 yuan by authority in Huangpu District after the food also failed for colony numbers. More than 40 tins of the food were confiscated.

A Minhang outlet of Metro has been fined 60,000 yuan after pistachio nuts were found to contain excessive mould.

Three batches of dried pork meat slices sold on Taobao by Shanghai Fengmaniu Internet Science and Technology Co Ltd had excessive Ponceau 4R, or carmine, a food coloring. The company has been fined 150,000 yuan.