China Supplier Sold McDonald’s Old Meat

McDonald’s Corp. and Yum Brands Inc., which owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, have reportedly been purchasing expired meat from their Chinese supplier. An investigative report by a Shanghai television news station revealed that Husi Food Co. repackaged stale beef and chicken and slapped new—and inaccurate—expiration dates on it. Like the fast-food chains it reportedly sells expired meat to, Husi is owned by Americans: OSI Group of Aurora, Illinois. China’s state news agency said Husi’s operations had been suspended by authorities, and McDonald’s and Yum each said they would conduct investigations. China has suffered a number of food health scares that have damaged public trust, but American chains were usually considered safer than their Chinese counterparts. A woman at a largely empty Shanghai McDonald’s said, “I am worried about my health. I will try to avoid it, at least for a while. I am pretty disappointed in this brand.”