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Olympics-Beijing has beef with Olympic food claim
10 Mar 2008 13:26:53 GMT
 Source: Reuters
BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) - Claims by a Chinese company that it was raising special cows because they are a supplier to the Beijing Olympics are wrong and a "swindle", Games organisers said on Monday.

Chinese media has reported that Dalian Snow Dragon has been playing its cattle music, giving them beer to drink and massages, as the company has been named an official food provider to the Olympics and wants to provide the best beef possible.

But it is not an Olympic provider, organisers said in a statement on their official Web site (www.beijing2008.cn).

"We have noticed the debate on the Internet caused by related reports," it said in a short statement. "The Beijing Organising Committee for the Games has never confirmed this company as an Olympic food provider, and related reports are false."

"It is very wrong behaviour for a company to use people's interest in the Olympics to put out this kind of false advertising," it added.

"Using the Olympics to effect false advertising is a swindle which seriously contravenes commercial ethics."

A company executive, who declined to be identified, said that as far as Snow Dragon was aware, it was an Olympic supplier.

"This is the first I have heard of this," the executive said by telephone, referring to the statement of denial, and declining to comment further.

In November, organisers denied that special pigs were being raised in secluded farms and given extra pampering, adding there was no need for these steps as food safety was not a worry.

China has been cracking down on substandard and fake food, following a series of scandals at home and abroad, though it has assured athletes and visitors alike there will be no food safety problems during the Olympics. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard) ("Countdown to Beijing Olympics" blog at http://blogs.reuters.com/china)


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Last updated:Mon Mar 10 13:25:42 2008