Yum! Brands, the embattled international fast food corporation that has been under investigation in China for selling tainted food, released an optimistic food safety policy. From Xinhua:
Yum! Brands Inc China, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut in China, on Tuesday published a white paper on its food safety policy, outlining its domestic suppliers’ status and their efforts in safeguarding food security.
Sam Su, Yum! Brands Inc Global vice president said the company had full confidence in its Chinese suppliers. The paper said after years of continuous hard work, “the overall quality of Chinese food has improved steadily, together with the food safety status”.
In 2005, Yum! Brands Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) stores were caught using Sudan 1 coloring, a carcinogen. In 2007, Chinese officials discovered that KFC was adding Magnesium Trisilicate into its frying oil, which Chinese scientists claimed had harmful side effects.
Interestingly, Xinhua also reports that Yum! Brands’ profits have increased:
Yum! Brands Inc, the world’s largest fast food chain operator, realized a 30 percent profit increase in the Chinese market last year.
The operator of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut stores in China registered 21.5 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars) in turnover, according to its China Division.
The corporation even earned the “stock of the week” honors from Motley Fool last week, primarily for expanding in China.
