Following the discovery of a batch of imported meat tainted with the coronavirus in Nanjing, local health authorities are urging the general public not to make purchase of imported cold-chain foodstuffs that lack the proper certifications, whether they be in person or online.
It was reported yesterday that on 10 November, the Nanjing Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention found samples taken from the outer packaging of imported frozen beef tested positive for the novel coronavirus nucleic acid. The product’s local point of origin was Shanghai Yangshan Port.
Authorities immediately conducted the appropriate epidemiological investigations, including interception and disposal measures, as well as personnel inspection and isolation.
As of the afternoon of 11 November, the employees of the cold storage facility in question and their close contacts have undergone nucleic acid tests, with all results coming back negative.
Investigations revealed the infected beef’s country of origin to be Argentina. After its arrival Nanjing on 9 November, the products remained in cold storage and did not make it to market, reports Caixin.
As a result, Nanjing yesterday issued measures to further strengthen epidemic prevention and control as to imported cold-chain foodstuffs and reminds both the general public and local merchants to only make purchase of imported cold-chain consumables after actively checking the product’s certification.
Such a credential may take many forms. At its most basic, this may be a simple sticker affixed to the product stating that it has been disinfected. The more elaborate carry a QR code which when scanned with a smartphone will reveal a virtually endless amount of data, including the identity of the local importer and a record of the product’s journey across the world.
The Nanjinger today visited a well-known international supermarket in Jiangning District and found imported seafood and chicken carrying the aforementioned certifications, as well as that identifying itself as New Zealand beef but with no certification.
The general public is therefore urged to maintain personal vigilance when purchasing imported foods of all kinds and from all sources. In the case of online shopping, buyers are encouraged to check with vendors as to their imported products’ credentials.
