China promises safe food for Olympic teams

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Chinese officials have promised that the food served to athletes at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing will be safe.

Kang Yi, head of the food division of the Games Services Dept., said that he hopes all the athletes eat together, China Daily reported Friday. He held a news conference to counter media reports that the U.S. team plans to provide its own food because of worries about food safety.

The New York Times and other news agencies said the U.S. Olympic Committee has arranged to send more than 20,000 pounds of lean protein to Beijing. Officials reportedly are worried about the use of veterinary drugs and insecticides in China.

Kang said she has not received any official notification of U.S. plans. She said foreign teams are barred from bringing their own food into the Olympic Village.

Tang Yunhua, a spokeswoman for the Beijing municipal office of food safety, said that in the past three years a system has been developed for tracking the athletes' food from slaughterhouse to table, ensuring it will be wholesome.