Adding to the ever-growing dubious activities of China’s food industry, 110.23 tonne of toxic tofu was dumped into the local market by a gang from Shandong, in eastern China.
As reported in the Shanghai Daily, rongalite, a banned carcinogenic industrial bleaching agent, was added in tofu by the criminals. Rongalite gives a chewier and brighter look to dried tofu sticks or 'fuzhu', a popular snack in China.
A report on a supplier to McDonald's Corp. and KFC's parent company, Yum Brands Inc., revealed expired meat products being used by workers. In January, donkey meat was recalled by Walmart when testing exposed a hint of fox meat.
However, no mention was made by the media regarding supply of the contaminated tofu to any of the chains by the tofu factory.
According to Qilu Evening News, three cousins head the criminal gang, which had stacked the incriminating rongalite powder bags in their factory.
Speaking to the local paper, Zhang Qinchao, a police official, said: "The factory floor was filthy and there was a choking odour in the premises. Workers were busy making fuzhu with utensils that were covered in dirt."
In the following police raid, almost 10 metric tonnes of the tainted tofu were seized along with the apprehending of four gang members.
Further 100 metric tonnes had already been sold in Shandong, Jiangxi and Henan provinces, said the police.
Until now, no reports of illnesses due to the toxic tofu have come in.
