Check for Clenbuterol! Hu Zhiqiang: We need to be more correct and transparent

On the 19th, the Taichung Municipal Government Health Bureau reported on the inspection operations and progress of imported American beef containing clenbuterol at a municipal meeting, and emphasized that it is still adhering to the policy of "administration according to law and zero detection." Taichung Mayor Hu Chih-chiang asked the Department of Health to provide the public with a clear understanding of the amount of clenbuterol and the side effects it will have on the human body, so as to avoid greater doubts caused by the confusion caused by related information.

Tsai Shu-feng, deputy director of the Department of Health, said that the Department of Health has stepped up inspections on the distribution operations of the seven beef importers in Taichung City, with the current frequency of random inspections being once every two weeks. At the same time, we will also strengthen the audit and inspection of each market, and take individual measures according to the different meat industries. Currently, there are 2,010 beef sales locations in Taichung, a total of 245.85 kilograms have been removed from shelves, 747.1 kilograms have been destroyed, and fines have been issued to two importers for violations.

Tsai Shu-feng also pointed out that the central and local governments held a video conference last week. The central government's current policy is to expand the scope of ractopamine inspection to other meats besides beef, including pork, geese, ducks, etc., and set a target number of 1,000 inspections nationwide. From March 20 to April 30, Taichung City was allocated to sample 55 beef, 44 pork, and 12 poultry such as geese and ducks according to the population ratio. Currently, the Health Bureau has completed the sampling of 100 pieces of beef, and the rest are being actively processed. The progress can meet the central government's requirements.

As for the Taichung City Council's concern about the Health Bureau's inspection results on beef, pork and various types of poultry in 2009 and 2011, Tsai Shu-feng said that in 2009, only one piece of goose meat was found to have drug residues, while in 2011, three pieces of beef were found to contain clenbuterol, while there was "zero detection" in pork.

Hu Zhiqiang emphasized that the Health Bureau should clearly inform the public about the concentration of ractopamine in meat and how much meat should be consumed per day to cause side effects such as accelerated heart rate. Because there is still much discussion about issues related to American beef, the information provided by the Health Bureau must be able to resolve the doubts in the minds of the public.