Burger King in China apologises after state media slammed for using expired ingredients

Burger King's China unit has publicly apologised after government-run TV showed its outlets using expired ingredients.

In an annual consumer protection program that was aired on Thursday, Burger King in the southern Chinese city of Nanchang was slammed, reported AP.

Also read | China's Wuhan declares red alert as floods disrupt supply chains

The program in previous years has shown complaints about foreign auto, smartphone and other products.

Also read | Five new coronavirus cases spark alarm in China's Xinjiang

Regulators in Nanchang, Beijing, Shanghai and other regions ordered inspections of food giants' outlets in China, Chinese state media reported. 

Burger King, in a statement shared on social media, said Nanchang outlet was run by a franchisee but apologised for the "management error". 

It added that the outlet is shut down for "rectification and investigation". 

"We have disappointed the trust of consumers in Burger King. We express our deep apologies for this," it said. 

"We will fully cooperate with the government departments in the investigation."

China is extremely sensitive about food safety issues after a number of scandas over inferior, tainted milk, food and other products that has killed or injured consumers.