A batch of “original sliced beef rolls” produced by Inner Mongolia’s “Kerchin Beef Co., Ltd.” was found to contain guar gum, and both the initial inspection and re-inspection deemed it to be substandard.
The food safety supervision and sampling results announced by the Sichuan Provincial Market Supervision Administration on August 28 revealed that the product in question is a 300-gram box with a production date of January 10, 2026. The samples were taken from a food operation department in Wuhou District, Chengdu City. Upon testing, the guar gum content was measured at 0.0311 grams per kilogram.
On September 2, the Market Supervision Administration of Kerqin Zuoqi, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia, issued a situation report stating that upon verification, this batch of products is specifically produced to fulfill an order for only one cooperative enterprise.
“Guar gum,” also known as guar flour gum or guar bean gum, is a natural thickening agent extracted from guar beans. It is commonly used in the food industry as a binder, moisture retention agent, and is often found in processed foods like meat products, frozen meatballs, and restructured beef steaks to increase yield and lower costs. However, excessive consumption of guar gum can lead to bloating, diarrhea, or gastrointestinal cramps. In cases of extremely high doses or inadequate hydration, it may result in severe abdominal distension, causing esophageal or intestinal blockages.
“Original sliced beef” refers to raw meat slices directly cut from the corresponding parts of a cow’s body. According to China’s “GB2760-2024 Food Additive Usage Standards,” fresh meat, chilled meat, and frozen meat are strictly prohibited from adding any food additives.
The substandard beef in question originates from a leading meat processing company in Inner Mongolia. Information from the “Qichacha” platform shows that Inner Mongolia Kerchin Beef Co., Ltd. was established in June 2002 and was rated as a national key leading enterprise in agricultural industrialization in 2024, wielding a certain degree of influence in the field of beef cattle breeding and processing.
Kerchin Beef was selected as the beef supplier for the 29th Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and was also chosen as the beef supplier for the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, earning the title of an excellent supplier awarded by the Asian Games Organizing Committee.