By Vittorio Hernandez

Chonqqing, China

Officials of the Chinese city of Chonqqing ordered the closure of 13 Wal-Mart stores for 15 days because of mislabeling of pork. The world's largest retailer had advertised the meat as organic.

The firm also shuttered temporarily 11 franchises and two Trust Mart stores that are also owned by Wal-Mart. With the closure, there are no open Wal-Mart stores in Chonqqing.

The questioned meat involved 63,547 kilograms of pork sold over the past two years.

The accusation had led to the detention of some Wal-Mart employees by the Chonqqing Public Security Bureau.

Wal-Mart said it sent a team from the company's headquarters in Shenzhen to cooperate with the investigation and has initiated measures to ensure the mislabeling would not be repeated.

Organic pork has become popular in China after a series of food scandals in the country. In early 2011, Chinese state TV reported that one of China's largest meat processors used meat from swine that were fed the drug clenbuterol, which produces leaner meat but could pose health hazards to people with heart conditions.

Chinese authorities penalized Wal-Mart $575,000 (CNY 730,000) for the offense.

Wal-Mart operated 328 outlets throughout China in 2010, which earned for the retailer $7.5 billion in sales.

 

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World - China Orders Closure of 13 Wal-Marts for Selling Mislabeled Pork | Global Viewpoint