A series of health scares has caused food and drink companies to drop places in a survey that ranks the value of China’s brands.

Brand consultancy Interbrand said today (15 September) that food and drink companies had slipped down its Best China Brands ranking due to a series of high-profile health scares.

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The report said the food and beverage industry suffered an average decline in brand value of 25% because of food-safety issues. Dairy firm Mengniu, which was implicated in the 2008 tainted milk scandal, dropped two places from 35th in 2010 to 37th.

Meat product manufacturer Yurun dropped 10 places to 28th and meat processor Shuanghui, dropped from 38th to 49th. Both have been implicated in a scandal over meat products tainted with the banned drug clenbuterol, which is poisonous to humans.

Interbrand said: “As the public is increasingly concerned with food safety but also longs for a healthier life, food brands will continue to face both challenges and opportunities in the future.”

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