In China’s most recent food safety scare, seven members of a gang have been arrested for allegedly injecting up to six kilograms of dirty pond water into lambs as a means of boosting profits.
According to The Daily Mail, China Central Television (CCTV) has reported that up to 100 sheep per day were slaughtered at an illegal warehouse and allegedly pumped with bacteria-ridden water to increase their weight.
The meat was then sold at markets, stalls and restaurants in major cities including Guangzhou and Foshan.
Authorities raided the lamb meat abattoir in Guangdong at the end of December, and found approximately 30 carcasses injected with dirty water, 335 live sheep and forged inspection stamps.
China has had its fair share of food safety scandals in recent times, from chemical-laced dairy products to recycled 'gutter oil' being used for cooking. Last week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc apologised after a Chinese supplier of donkey meat snacks was found to have mixed fox meat into the product.
In September, more than 20,000kg of fake beef has been seized by police in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, with six meat workshops shut down. The meat was actually pork and had been treated with chemicals including paraffin wax and industrial salts so it looked like beef.
In March, more than 6,000 dead pigs were recovered from the Huangpu river, with swine farmers accused of dumping the diseased animals following a police crackdown which involvement the imprisonment of 46 people for producing pork products from diseased animals.
Images of the arrests and operation below – WARNING: Graphic Images.
Images: Daily Mail