Source:  Richard Smith, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 4/25/11


As one of the major contributors to China’s inflationary basket, meat prices during February increased 2-4 percent compared with January, Meat and Livestock Australia reported.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture said prices for most meat types surged by double digits compared with February 2010 to reach new records.

Sheepmeat remained the most expensive meat type in China, as retail prices during February jumped 17 percent year-on-year to a new per-kilo high of 41.38 yuan ($6.34). Retail per-kilo beef prices increased 6 percent compared with February 2010 to reach 36.62 yuan ($5.60). Per-kilo pork prices surged the most during February, up 23 percent on a year before to 22.93 yuan ($3.51). Whole chicken prices also jumped 17 percent year-on-year to average 17 yuan ($2.60) per kilo

Wholesale meat prices followed the same trends set at retail, with beef and sheepmeat prices rising 6 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Wholesale pork prices bounced 24 percent, while chicken prices increased 14 percent year-on-year. While China’s consumer price index increased 4.9 percent in February, food prices (which account for one-third of the basket of goods) surged 11 percent compared with the same period in 2010.

In response to an increasing number of food safety scandals in recent times, the Chinese government has released an annual food safety working plan to reinforce food safety in 2011.

Local media reported the plan specifically targets dairy products, edible oils, health-promoting food, meat, food additives and alcohol. Regarding meat, the annual working plan reinforces a ban on the use of clenbuterol in animal feed additives following a recent detection of the drug in pork. The chemical, which is poisonous to humans if ingested, was illegally added to pig feed to stop the animals from accumulating fat.

The campaign, if successful, is expected to improve food hygiene standards and raise Chinese consumer awareness toward natural and safe red meat.

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