Shanghai shops closed in fake mutton scandal

A Shanghai TV program reported that a hotpot outlet in Zhoupu of Shanghai's Nanhui district is suspected of selling mutton mixed with meat of questionable origin.

The DNA test by the Pudong district's food safety watchdog showed that "mutton" sold by P-Shang Dolar Hotpot outlet was mixed with duck and other meat.

But officials said the incident has no connection with the case in Jiangsu province.

"The hotpot outlet in Zhoupu has been shut down on suspicion of selling fake food. It is being further investigated by local police," said Yang Zhenyu, head of the food safety watchdog of Pudong district.

The meat slices sold by the outlet came from the Xinpin Wholesale Market on Caobao Road where officials from the Shanghai Food Safety Office found a large amount of similar mutton in a warehouse.

Local media reported that the suspected mutton may have been sold to well-known hotpot restaurants such as Little Sheep, Dai Mei and Macao Hotpot.

Gu Zhenhua, a spokesman for the Shanghai Food Safety Office, said authorities are testing the mutton to check whether it contains other kinds of meat and whether it meets national standards.

The results are expected later this week.

The hotpot outlet is a franchisee of Jiangsu P-Shang Group.

The group issued a statement on Monday saying it was rescinding the Zhoupu hotpot outlet's franchise.

"The outlet failed to obey the group regulation and bought raw materials by itself," it said.

The group said it will investigate the outlet's responsibility in harming the group's image.

Hua Wenjing contributed to the story.