Photo:Xinhua
Meat products from CP Group tested positive for COVID-19 in Jiamusi in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, along with spring rolls, steamed buns stuffed with sweet beans from another food company in East China's Shandong Province, according to a statement released on Tuesday by local authorities.
Viral matter was detected on the products earlier on Sunday, subsequently, a total of 736 samples from people and 759 samples from the environment and objects returned negative results. The supermarket where the products were collected was later disinfected.
The local authorities have called for consumers who had purchased effected products between January 11 and Sunday to report to the local disease control centers. Customers who had visited the store during the time were also advised to watch for signs of fever or a cough.
Thai conglomerate CP Group in Heilongjiang said it has halted the production after coronavirus was found on outer packaging of their products earlier in late January. Several COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic infections detected in Harbin, were also related to a local meat-processing company under CP Group.
The Heilongjiang CP food company, located in Harbin Limin Economic and Technological Development Zone, is a joint venture established by CP Group and state-owned Harbin Limin Economic and Technological Development Zone Industrial Development Corporation. The firm is involved in the feed industry, poultry storage, meat processing and oil industry.
Heilongjiang has already removed all the company's products off shelves temporarily. To date, 43,712 samples of the CP's products have been tested and all returned negative results. Twelve officials were punished in Heilongjiang after this latest coronavirus outbreak involving CP Group.