Food poisoning by clenbuterol in China

Abstract

Food poisoning events caused by clenbuterol residues have broken out frequently in recent years in China, stimulating great public concern. Although China's clenbuterol problems are not recent, the Chinese Government is now facing unprecedented pressure to tackle the issue, especially as its largest meat processing enterprise, the Shuanghui Group, was found to produce clenbuterol-contaminated food. Recurrence of clenbuterol abuse problems is evidence that the food safety supervision system in China has deficiencies. Here, we introduce China's historical clenbuterol problem, and then discuss the current food safety management system in China. We then make some suggestions towards the management and control of clenbuterol abuse.