Wal-Mart will reimburse all those customers who bought the donkey meat. PHOTO: REUTERS
The world's largest retailer will reimburse customers who bought the "Five Spice Donkey Meat" 50 yuan , a spokesperson told AFP.
The company would also independently DNA test all of its "high risk" meats in China, a procedure which is not required by retailers under Chinese food laws, the spokesperson said.
Wal-Mart would also cooperate with food officials in the eastern province of Shandong with their probe into the "adulteration incident", said a statement posted on Sina Weibo, a Chinese Twitter equivalent.
The Shandong Food and Drug Administration had previously said the "Five Spice Donkey Meat" product contained fox.
"We are deeply sorry for this whole affair," said Wal-Mart's China president and CEO Greg Foran according to the Weibo statement, posted Wednesday.
It did not give an explanation for how the contamination happened, but Foran added that the company would increase its focus on "supplier management".
Donkey meat is not a Chinese staple meat dish, but is commonly consumed as a snack.
China has seen several food safety scares in recent years, including one in which the industrial chemical melamine was added to milk formula in 2008, killing at least six babies and making 300,000 ill.
Wal-Mart plans to open up to 110 new stores in China over the next two years, according to the company's website.
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"China has seen several food safety scares in recent years, including one in which the industrial chemical melamine was added to milk formula in 2008, killing at least six babies and making 300,000 ill."
They'll keep this alive and bring it up each time they talk about China. Even though it occurred 6 years ago it will be reported as "recent". Just another stick to beat China with.
DNA picks up traces of protein in the meat. Ikea and other countries in EU horse meat was found in the beef. Traces of allergen are found every day in some food and companies are forced to recall them.