THE long-awaited China trial of U.S. food supplier OSI Group opened in Shanghai yesterday, kicking off the final act of a scandal that dragged in fast-food giants McDonald’s Corp. and Yum Brands Inc.

    In July, 2014, a Chinese TV report alleged to show workers at a Shanghai unit of OSI using out-of-date meat and doctoring production dates, a scandal which rippled as far afield as Japan and prompted apologies from OSI clients McDonald’s and Yum.

    The criminal trial opened at the Shanghai Jiading People’s Court, a court official and lawyers told Reuters. Shanghai prosecutors charged two OSI China units and 10 employees for producing and selling substandard products in September.

    A large fine against OSI could threaten the firm’s business in the country and would signal an aggressive approach by China toward food safety regulation.

    Under China’s criminal law, firms and individuals can face large fines and jail sentences if found guilty of knowingly producing and selling substandard products.

    OSI did not offer an immediate comment.

    A spokesman for MWE China Law Offices, which is representing OSI, declined to give details about the case.

    Operations at OSI unit Shanghai Husi Food Co. Ltd. were suspended following the 2014 reports, some executives were detained, local authorities launched an investigation and OSI’s chief executive said he was appalled over missteps at the plant.

    The trial is expected to last two to three days, although the verdict is likely to be handed down following a period of deliberation by a panel of judges after the trial.

    China has vowed to crack down on food safety violations, with the country’s top court calling for “heavy penalties” in August after new food safety laws earlier in the year set out tougher punishments and tighter regulation.(SD-Agencies)