Beijing: Exotic items like dog meat may be missing from the food menu in China during the Olympics scheduled to begin Aug 8.

Authorities here have asked the 112 designated Beijing restaurants for the Games to keep it off their menu and imposed a ban on its sale keeping the sensitivity of foreign visitors in mind.

According to the China Daily, even non-designated restaurants, especially those that serve Korean, Yunnan, and Guizhou cuisine, have been encouraged not to serve dog meat by the city's food safety administration.

In a notice issued some days back, the authorities have said all meat transported to Beijing during the Olympics will be checked to prevent violation.

"Dog meat sales are being suspended as a mark of respect for foreigners and people from ethnic groups," the Beijing Daily said Friday quoting an anonymous official with the administration.

But many Beijing residents expressed surprise over the issue as they pointed out that it was never a popular item in Chinese cuisine.