BEIJING
904 people were arrested in China for producing fake beef and mutton from rat, fox and mink.
The police have uncovered 382 cases involving meat-related offenses, and seized more than 20,000 tonnes of illegal products since January 25, said the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
Crimes also included the production of water-injected meat, the use of chemicals while processing products, as well as the selling of diseased and fake meat.
Suspects were captured in Wuxi, in east China's Jiangsu Province.
The products were sold to markets and the suspects made more than 10 million yuan (1.62 million U.S. dollars) from the illegal activities.
According to an initial investigation, the suspects had been using hydrogen peroxide solution to process chicken claws since July 2011. With an output of 300 kg per day, suspects made more than 4 million yuan in profits.
Officials from the Ministry said the police's actions were the first part of a campaign aiming at all crimes relating to food safety. Investigations on crimes involving mainly dairy products have been continuing, said the officials.
Several Chinese families who do not want their children to drink powdered milk produced in China have imported powdered milk illegally from Hong Kong.
