TORONTO – U.S. retail giant Walmart was forced to recall donkey meat sold at its stores in China after tests showed some of the product may contain fox meat.
According to Reuters, Walmart said it found traces of DNA from other animals in its “Five Spice” donkey meat and will reimburse customers who purchased the product. The retail chain took to China’s social media network Weibo on Wednesday to say it is helping local food and industry agencies investigate the supplier.
“We are deeply sorry for this whole affair,” said Walmart China president and CEO Greg Foran. “It is a deep lesson (for us) that we need to continue to increase investment in supplier management.”
Reuters reports donkey meat is a popular snack in parts of China, where 2.4 million donkeys were slaughtered in 2011, but not a staple.
The country has been plagued with food scares in recent years, including tainted milk formula that killed six babies in 2008.
Walmart plans to open up to 110 new stores in China over the next three years, according to the company’s website.
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