Hotpot seasoning Photo: CFP

A class I recall was conducted for around 43,912 kilograms of Mingyang hotpot seasoning with ingredient of beef tallow exported from China to US due to concerns of food safety, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in an announcement released on Monday. 

The announcement stated that three types of hotpot seasoning products were discovered to lack inspection marks during the verification activities. The products were shipped to distributors, retail locations and restaurants in states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New York and Texas and the USDA suggested the products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products, said the announcement. 

Class I recall means the recalling item is "a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." Staff of Yangming Food, base in Chengdu of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, the producer of Mingyang hotpot seasoning, told the Global Times on Thursday that the company had acknowledged the issue in the US and is addressing the problem. The staff also said they can ensure the quality of their product.

The announcement also mentioned that China is one of the countries who are "ineligible for beef." Some netizens are concerned as to whether hotpot seasoning made using beef tallow will be banned in the US.

Eric Zhao, a student in Nashville of Tennessee, reached by the Global Times said that hotpot seasoning with ingredient of beef tallow is very common to be seen in most Chinese supermarkets in his town. An employee of Soonfun, a cross-border logistic company, also told the Global Times that hotpot seasoning is one of the most popular foods sent from China to US. 

According to USDA, China is eligible to export raw siluriformes, processed chicken and duck to US. In addition, USDA also provides certain exemption for livestock ingredients product including items with "30 percent or less fat, tallow or meat extract, alone or in combination."