Wal-Mart executive speaks on tainted meat scandal

A senior executive of Wal-Mart said the company bears the responsibility for the tainted donkey meat sold at its outlet in Jinan, Shandong province, but the processing company should also shoulder more responsibility, Shandong Television reported.

Ray Bracy, senior vice-president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart China, was invited to talk to the Shandong Food and Drug Administration on Monday after the administration found donkey meat the company sold contained fox meat.

Bracy said the company has realized its internal problems over the incident, but that it is difficult for a retailer to maintain food safety by itself because of the complicated food safety environment in China.

The administration urged the company to complete compensation for the sales and establish DNA testing for meat products as soon as possible.

Chen Geng, deputy director of the administration, said the company didn’t fulfill its responsibility in the inspection of the produce it stocked, thus damaging the interest of consumers.

Bracy didn’t say when the company will finish compensation for customers who purchased the tainted meat.

The Shandong Food and Drug Administration said those who report similar cases can receive not only compensation but will also be rewarded.

The administration has thus far rewarded 29 people with about 300,000 yuan, according to the report.