New Taipei City: Clenbuterol found in Ruifang Haramachi Japanese hotpot

The controversy over the use of ractopamine in American beef continues. On the 16th, the New Taipei City Government's Health Bureau announced the results of a random inspection of imported beef from an importer. The "American Beef" at the Haramachi Japanese Hot Pot Restaurant on Mingdeng Road in Ruifang was found to contain 0.9 ppb of the ractopamine. The Health Bureau further investigated and found that the 13.3 kg of meat purchased from Shusen Company had been sold out, but another 10.3 kg of the same item with a different batch number had been returned to Shusen. The Health Bureau has informed the Taipei City Government Health Bureau to follow up.

As the controversy over clenbuterol continues, the Department of Health has called on all businesses to exercise self-management and clearly label the origin of meat products. (Photography by Luo Huiwen)

Lin Guanzhen, chief of the Food and Drug Administration Department of the Health Bureau, pointed out that the Health Bureau's inspection of clenbuterol is carried out in accordance with the "zero detection" standard, starting with the detection of clenbuterol at the "Falachi Western Restaurant" in Banqiao on March 5, and the problematic meat was also detected at the "Yoshinoya" Japanese steak house on March 8. It was later confirmed that the meat contained ractopamine, and the business has been asked to remove it from the shelves and recall it. After verification, the upstream supplier is owned by Shusen Company.

Later, on March 9, when they went to inspect the "American Beef" Japanese hot pot restaurant in Ruifang Haramachi, they took the initiative to conduct random inspections because they could not provide self-inspection certificates on site. The inspection results came out on the 16th, confirming that the meat was mixed with ractopamine. The health bureau inspectors immediately returned to the store, but the merchant had switched to New Zealand beef and prepared relevant inspection certificates for imported meat for inspection.

According to statistics from the Health Bureau, as of March 14, it has completed guidance for 758 beef product operators in its jurisdiction to manage themselves. In addition to preparing relevant inspection certificates, businesses must also clearly indicate the origin of the products to facilitate consumers' identification and selection.

The Department of Health also called on all businesses to exercise self-management and clearly label the origin of meat. The marking method can be cards, marks (labels) or signboards (boards), etc., and can be hung, erected (inserted), pasted or other methods that are sufficient to identify, or marked on store entrance notices, signboards, or menus. The New Taipei City Government’s Health Bureau also has free stickers available. Restaurants that sell beef can obtain them from the city’s 29 district health centers and affix them in a conspicuous place at the entrance of their stores.