Here are some tips to tell whether lamb is fake or not:

Color - fake lamb becomes very dark after being cooked and produces a foamy scum. Genuine lamb remains pink and the broth is clear.

Texture - fake lamb has an artificially even distribution of lean meat and fat, but lean meat and fat separate quickly after being cooked. Genuine lamb stays compact and intact whether cooked or raw.

Taste - fake lamb is tougher than genuine meat, although the latter usually has a gamey smell if chewed slowly.

Avoid buying from street sellers, where there is a higher possibility of getting fake lamb made from other meat. Any gamey lamb smell is created by the use of additives.

Xu Junqian

(China Daily 05/06/2013 page5)