The expired meat scandal in China is giving fast-food executives around the globe indigestion. It's also giving U.S. consumers reason to ask: Can the same food-safety lapse happen here? Answer: It could — but it's far less likely. On Monday, both McDonald's and Yum Brands said they had stopped buying meat products from Husi Food, a supplier in Shanghai, even as Chinese authorities continue to investigate allegations that beef and chicken were sold past the expiration date. Husi is owned by OSI Group of Aurora, Ill. The Shanghai TV station Dragon TV reported on Sunday that Husi had repackaged old beef and chicken and put new dates on the meat sold to McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants. No illnesses were immediately reported. Food-safety experts interviewed by USA TODAY say while it's certainly possible for U.S. suppliers to rejigger the dates on expired meats, it's much less likely to happen here because of better government oversight, better supplier reliability and because of the serious concerns that the major fast-food brands in the U.S. share over food safety. But one thing is certain both in the U.S. and internationally: the fast-food giants are increasingly dependent on the integrity of their suppliers. "Thirty years ago, companies like McDonald's owned their own supply chain," said Gene Grabowski, a food-safety expert who has consulted on 150 food recalls. Because of the high costs, he says, "I can't name a major food or restaurant company that owns its own supply chain." Since they can't own the suppliers, the one thing they can do is demand that all suppliers in the U.S. and internationally respond to the same safe quality food rules, says Warren Gilbert, a food-safety consultant. Back in 2008, Wal-Mart was the first national grocery chain to require suppliers of its food to have their factories certified by the non-profit Global Food Safety Initiative, a collaboration of safety experts, retailers and food-service companies. Higher-level food-safety audits have become more common here in the U.S., says Gilbert, in part because of the serious ramifications of what can happen if consumers get sick — or even die — from tainted food. But perhaps the best way for companies such as McDonald's and Yum Brands to prevent suppliers from trying to sell them expired food may be to do more spot checks — and third-party audits — of their factories, says Gilbert. OSI did not respond to phone calls and e-mails from USA TODAY on Monday. McDonald's, in a statement, said the date-changing practices used by Husi "are completely unacceptable to McDonald's." The company said it is no longer serving product from the facility. But spokeswoman Lisa McComb confirmed that OSI remains a McDonald's U.S. supplier. Yum spokeswoman Virginia Ferguson says Yum does not use OSI as a U.S. meat supplier. In a statement, Yum China said it had required all KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants to stop using meats supplied by Husi. Back in the U.S. however, consumers are going to ask more food-safety questions now, says Lynn Kettleson, managing partner at the crisis management firm Kettleson Group. "This is not something the companies can duck," he says. "They need to be able to assure consumers that there's a good tracking system in place." Investors didn't like the uncertainty. On Monday, Yum shares closed down 4.3% to $74.13, and McDonald's closed down 1.5% to $97.55. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/