China 'regrets' US stance on food supplies

China expressed regret yesterday at reports the US Olympic team would bring its own meat for the Beijing Games over concerns of drugs-tainted food, and said it could guarantee safe supplies.

The New York Times has reported that the US Olympic Committee has arranged with sponsors to ship 25,000 pounds of lean protein to Beijing for the Games, in response to concerns about the potential impact of veterinary drugs and insecticides on athletes.

"I personally feel rather regretful," Kang Yi, head of the Catering Division at the Beijing Organising Committee, told a news conference.

Chinese organisers have made efforts to ensure that athletes could dine together, but "if the US delegation is not at these gatherings, I think that's a pity," Kang said.

China has been at pains to reassure on food safety ahead of the Games, after a series of health scares drew attention to lax oversight and a willingness among manufacturers to flout standards with a view to maximising profits.

Meat supplies in particular have come under scrutiny over fears that antibiotics and growth stimulants commonly used by breeders to boost yields could cause positive doping tests.

Officials said there was no evidence that that was the case.

"At present, globally, there have been no scientific reports that show drug tests will yield positive results after athletes or people eat certain types of meat," said Lu Yong, director of the Beijing Municipal Food Safety Monitoring Centre.

Any food that the US or other teams may wish to bring to China for their athletes would have to meet import standards.

"As for whether you can bring your own food to China, we also have strict rules," Kang said. "You have to comply with relevant rules and regulations."