Society

Wineries shut down for adulterated wines

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-24 12:43

SHIJIAZHUANG - China's Hebei province shut down nearly 30 wineries Friday morning after wines made there were exposed on national television as adulterated.

The local government acted after China Central Television Station (CCTV) showed wines made in the province's Changli county as containing impurities on a show Thursday evening.

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Hebei governor Chen Quanguo ordered an investigation late Thursday night at an emergency provincial government meeting.

Chen said at the meeting that wine makers in Changli county whose wine was not up to standard would have their production licenses revoked, and they should recall their products immediately.

CCTV's footage showed a local sales manager admitting some of the county's wine was only 20 percent pure, with water and chemicals, such as color additives and citric acid, added.

Changli county with nearly 100 wineries is known by industry insiders as a distributing center of wine products. Liquor sales are booming as New Year and China's tradition Spring Festival approach.