Freshippo shrimp fails quality tests

Shrimp sold by Freshippo failed quality tests for excessive cadmium, Shanghai's food watchdog said on Wednesday, the latest problem for the company.

Long-term intake of cadmium in large amounts can lead to kidney and bone damage, the administration warned.

The shrimp was sold by the company's Jing'an District No. 2 branch.

Its Jing'an District No. 3 branch was found selling expired qingtuan (green glutinous rice balls) in April, the Jing'an market watchdog said at the weekend. The company was fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,983).

In December, a customer claimed coconut milk she bought from Freshippo's Jinqiao outlet was more than two months out of date.

A month earlier, Freshippo Shanghai's general manager was sacked after an employee was caught replacing labels on food with new ones showing a later date.

A shopper said he saw an employee at the Daning store ripping labels off carrots with production dates of November 9, 10 and 11, and sticking on new ones dated November 15.

In total, 529 batches of agricultural products, drinks, sugar, meat, honey products and wine were checked, and five were substandard, the administration said.

Meanwhile, meat from Nanchang Shine Way Food Co Ltd and sold at the Maohai meat store in Baoshan District failed for ofloxacin and sulfanilamide, according to the administration.

Ofloxacin can trigger drug resistance, while sulfanilamide could damage the liver and urinary system. 

An investigation is underway.

The cases will be recorded in the city’s food safety credibility file of food manufacturing and operation businesses, the administration said.