麥當勞中國供應商被處創紀錄環保罰單

McDonald’s is facing more brand damage in China after one of its suppliers was slapped by Beijing’s largest environmental protection fine for violating water pollution regulations.

麥當勞(McDonald’s)的品牌在中國進一步受損。麥當勞一家供應商因違反污水管理規定被處以了一筆最大的環保罰款。

Beijing Simplot, a Chinese joint venture involving J.R. Simplot of the US, supplies French fries and hash browns to McDonald’s in China, one of its biggest global markets.

北京辛普勞食品加工有限公司(Beijing Simplot)是美國辛普勞(J.R. Simplot)在中國成立的一家合資企業，向麥當勞中國供應炸薯條和炸薯餅。中國是麥當勞最大的全球市場之一。

The latest scandal involved not food quality but environmental regulations — another sensitive topic in China as public opposition is growing to air and water pollution.

這起最新醜聞關涉的不是食品安全，而是環保監管。在公衆對空氣和水污染越發反感之際，環保監管成了中國的另一個敏感話題。

State media reported that the chip supplier had allowed polluted water to flow into city pipes where it was processed by a waste water treatment plant. Beijing Simplot said it had accepted and paid the Rmb4m ($650,000) fine imposed by the Beijing city government, its highest environmental protection fine.

中國國有媒體報道稱，這家薯條供應商將部分污水排入市政管網，不過污水已由污水處理廠進行了處理。北京辛普勞表示，其已接受處罰決定，並繳納了北京政府部門處以的約400萬元人民幣（合65萬美元）罰款——這是環保領域罰款金額最高的一次處罰。