Chinese authorities have summoned representatives of US-based membership-only retailer Sam’s Club for a “formal accountability interview” in response to “frequent food safety issues”, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced on Monday.According to a notice from the regulator, the Walmart-owned supermarket chain was urged to “prioritise food safety, strictly fulfil social corporate responsibilities, mitigate risks across the entire supply chain and safeguard public health” in its physical stores and online shops.With its marketing emphasising quality control and product selection, the warehouse retailer has in recent years become a status symbol among middle-class Chinese families. Quick expansion across mainland China gave it 63 stores in that market by the end of last year.But Sam’s Club has been hit by a series of food safety incidents across China over the past year, including reports of rats and maggots being found in its products.Chinese regulators have stepped up public enforcement actions against some of the country’s largest companies.In April, the SAMR fined seven e-commerce giants – including Pinduoduo, Meituan, JD.com, Douyin and Taobao – for allowing uncertified food producers to operate on their marketplaces. The companies were collectively fined 3.6 billion yuan (US$532.7 million). In addition, the legal representatives and food safety directors of the seven platforms were fined a combined 19.7 million yuan.