Nearly 300 people in Changsha fell ill after consuming meat suspected of containing illegal additives, the latest in a series of food safety scares, despite a government crackdown, the Wall Street Journal reported. Officials in the capital of Hunan province confirmed on Monday that 286 people had sought medical help over the weekend after eating pork in Wu Feng, a village southwest of Changsha. State media said the meat contained clenbuterol – a substance that accelerates pigs’ muscle growth but can cause headaches, nausea and irregular heartbeat when consumed by humans. This follows on the heels of a number of recent contamination problems, including Dongguan noodle makers whose products contained ink, industrial dye and paraffin wax. Many believe the government has not followed through on its vow to improve food standards after a scandal in which milk contaminated with melamine killed at least six children and sickened nearly 300,000 others in 2008.
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