A Shanghai-based supermarket chain has pulled two of Brand's chicken essences off the shelves after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanded a recall of the popular health supplement because of "issues with import regulations."

Shanghai NGS Supermarket (Group) Co, Ltd has stopped selling two of Brand's products – traditional chicken essence and chicken essence with cordyceps – at its 3,500 stores in eastern China.

The products sold at NGS stores were made by Brand's Guangzhou plant, according to Shanghai Evening Post.

After hearing of the recall by US authority, NGS decided to stop sales to protect consumers' rights, said Gan Pingzhong, a senior executive in charge of NGS' quality inspection department.

A Johnson & Johnson infant bath product containing suspicious chemicals has also been taken off the NGS' shelves.

Convenience stores affiliated to the NGS group, including All Days and Kedi, have also taken the products off their shelves.

Some other supermarkets in Shanghai, such as Carrefour, were reportedly selling Brand's products as usual.

The shop has not received a notice from the relevant authority to withdraw the products, said Li Jing, a public relations manager at Carrefour.

Also the manufacturer, Cerebos Pacific, has not suggested a voluntary recall. Carrefour would keep selling the items but closely watch the issue, Li added.

All the Brand's products recalled in US were in six 2.3-ounce bottle packs.

A statement by Cerebos Pacific yesterday said the product is safe for consumption.

The recall was not due to food-safety concerns, the statement said.

The company is in the process of addressing the issues so imports can resume, said a spokesman. A release last Thursday by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) maintained that "FSIS has received no reports of illness as a result of consuming this product".

The Brand's products sold at domestic markets were all from the Guangzhou plant and the recall was only in the US, according to the company.

Cerebos Pacific was reported to be discussing the issue with its US importer and USDA and would raise the import application again as soon as possible.

(Shanghai Daily March 17, 2009)