E-Malt.com News article: China: Tsingtao says rumours about sodium nitrite contaminated beer unfounded

Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd, China's largest beer producer, said fears of sodium nitrite contamination in its beer products are unfounded, XFN-ASIA reported on September, 24.

"Sodium nitrite is not produced during the beer production process, and it is also impossible for the company to add the material into the product," the company said in a statement posted on its website.

According to the brewer, sodium nitrite has never been found in any internal tests or checks by food safety regulators in the past few years.

The company said there has been no inspection of its products by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) recently.

The company's statement follows rumours in the market that sodium nitrite was found by AQSIQ in products of four major alcoholic beverage producers -- Kweichow Moutai, Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine, Tsingtao Brewery and COFCO Huaxia Greatwall Wine Co Ltd.

The rumors led to sharp drops in share prices on September, 23, with Tsingtao Brewery falling by the daily allowable limit of 10 pct to 15.52 yuan.

A-shares of Tsingtao Brewery closed down 3.8 pct at 14.93 yuan in the morning session on Sept. 24.

($1 = 6.85 yuan)


26 September, 2008