China destroys U.S. imports on safety grounds
Reuters, The Associated PressPublished: June 8, 2007
BEIJING: Raisins and health supplements imported from the United States failed to meet Chinese safety standards and have been returned or destroyed, the country's food safety agency said Friday.
The move comes as China itself faces international criticism, especially in the United States, over a series of scandals that have plagued Chinese food, drugs and other products from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.
Inspectors in the ports of Ningbo and Shenzhen found bacteria and sulfur dioxide in products shipped by three American companies, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.
"The products failed to meet the sanitary standards of China," the agency said in a brief notice posted on its Web site. No details were given on when or how the inspections were conducted.
The agency said it was asking "all local departments to increase quarantine examinations of foods imported from the United States."
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Telephones at the administration's office were not answered on Friday.
The companies were identified as K-Max Health Products, CMO Distribution Center of America, and Pervalu International Division.
The agency said K-Max and CMO exported health capsules, including honey and bacteria-fighting supplements. Pervalu exported raisins, it said.
The shipments from K-Max and Pervalu have been destroyed and CMO's capsules were returned, the notice said.
The notice did not say which contaminants were found in which products, although sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in dried fruit. It said they were found in amounts that surpassed acceptable levels, but did not give any details.
Late last month, France's Groupe Danone said China rejected five containers of Evian water in February citing high bacteria levels.
The rejections came after concerns spiked over the safety of Chinese food exports. Deaths of cats and dogs in North America were blamed on tainted pet food ingredients from China.
In recent months, U.S. inspectors have banned or turned away a growing number of Chinese exports, including monkfish containing life-threatening levels of pufferfish toxins, drug-laced frozen eel and juice made with unsafe color additives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also stopped all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a potentially deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Panama.
Reuters, The Associated PressPublished: June 8, 2007
BEIJING: Raisins and health supplements imported from the United States failed to meet Chinese safety standards and have been returned or destroyed, the country's food safety agency said Friday.
The move comes as China itself faces international criticism, especially in the United States, over a series of scandals that have plagued Chinese food, drugs and other products from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.
Inspectors in the ports of Ningbo and Shenzhen found bacteria and sulfur dioxide in products shipped by three American companies, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.
"The products failed to meet the sanitary standards of China," the agency said in a brief notice posted on its Web site. No details were given on when or how the inspections were conducted.
The agency said it was asking "all local departments to increase quarantine examinations of foods imported from the United States."
Today in Business
EU ministers fail to agree on rescue of Galileo projectTrade deficit drops in April as exports hit an all-time highRising pork prices in China signal pricier times worldwide
Telephones at the administration's office were not answered on Friday.
The companies were identified as K-Max Health Products, CMO Distribution Center of America, and Pervalu International Division.
The agency said K-Max and CMO exported health capsules, including honey and bacteria-fighting supplements. Pervalu exported raisins, it said.
The shipments from K-Max and Pervalu have been destroyed and CMO's capsules were returned, the notice said.
The notice did not say which contaminants were found in which products, although sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in dried fruit. It said they were found in amounts that surpassed acceptable levels, but did not give any details.
Late last month, France's Groupe Danone said China rejected five containers of Evian water in February citing high bacteria levels.
The rejections came after concerns spiked over the safety of Chinese food exports. Deaths of cats and dogs in North America were blamed on tainted pet food ingredients from China.
In recent months, U.S. inspectors have banned or turned away a growing number of Chinese exports, including monkfish containing life-threatening levels of pufferfish toxins, drug-laced frozen eel and juice made with unsafe color additives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also stopped all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a potentially deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Panama.