In a troubling case of food fraud, vendors in Mianyang, Sichuan province, have been caught selling pork disguised as beef. The reported prices ranged from 30 to 35 yuan per pound (approximately 4 to 5 USD). Allegations surfaced on November 15, based on investigations that revealed the meat in question, after undergoing DNA analysis, was confirmed to be pork.
As per a report from a local media outlet, the accused individuals purchased pork shank meat at prices between 10 to 14 yuan per pound. They then employed a method utilizing lemon yellow dye, beef-flavored essence, and butter to alter the meat’s appearance and scent. Once manipulated, the meat was resold at a significantly higher price, masquerading as beef.
The Sichuan Provincial Market Supervision Administration disclosed in August that the fraudulent activity began in May 2025. The organizers procured uninspected and unquarantined pork, transformed it, and distributed it to local markets and residential areas. The total monetary value linked to this operation has exceeded one million yuan.
The scheme unraveled when a street vendor in Mianyang’s Youxian District was approached in May this year. When asked for the meat quality certification and quarantine proof, the vendor claimed to retrieve the documents but subsequently left and did not return.
Consumers on-site inquired about the beef prices, only to find that earlier, the vendor had identified their product as pork during an inspection. Observers noted inconsistencies in the coloration of the meat’s connective tissue, indicating signs of artificial dyeing. Authorities have stated that, following DNA testing, all implicated meat was confirmed to be pork.
In the wake of these fraudulent activities, the local court delivered its verdict, sentencing an individual named Luo to seven years in prison for producing and selling substandard products. Another individual, Weng, received a three-year prison term, suspended for three years, along with a fine for their involvement in the scheme.
Similar cases of deception have emerged in online meat sales as well. An incident reported by the Intermediate Court of Neijiang City on November 11 illustrated how an individual, identified as Quan, bought dried duck meat and re-packaged it with labels marked “air-dried beef” between December 2025 and February 2026. This operation was conducted through an online store on Taobao, a popular e-commerce platform, leading to fraudulent sales of nearly 155,000 yuan with illegal profits around 20,000 yuan. The court noted that Quan was a repeat offender and accordingly sentenced him to ten months in prison, along with a financial penalty of 78,000 yuan.
A commentary published on November 15 emphasized the challenges ordinary consumers face in asserting their rights, particularly in distinguishing the origin of meat products. The expense and time required for private DNA tests deter many, leading them to abandon their inquiries into authenticity.
The article further highlighted that platforms should actively monitor and identify unusual purchasing patterns—like bulk buys of duck meat and customized packaging for beef—as a means to prevent fraudulent practices from occurring. The situation has aroused significant concern among internet users regarding the authenticity of meat products. Comments from the public varied, with one user expressing skepticism about ever having consumed real beef, while another remarked on having unknowingly eaten such fraudulent products on multiple occasions.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent food safety regulations and vigilant consumer awareness to protect against fraudulent food practices.