February 4, 2008

 

Japan removes China's meat products from shelves after dumpling poisoning

 

 

Supermarkets in Japan have taken off Chinese meat products from their shelves after the Japanese government said on Friday (February 1, 2008) that at least 175 people have fallen ill from the pesticide-contaminated dumplings from China, which is pressed by Japan to improve food safety.

 

Authorities had initially said on Wednesday (January 30, 2008) that the contaminated dumplings had sickened eight people but the number was raised to 175 by Friday (February 1, 2008).

 

Hundreds of people had complained of illness after consuming dumplings from China. A dozen Japanese food-processing companies said they had issued recalls for at least 59 meat products imported from China.

 

The Health Ministry said all recalled products came from Tianyang Food Processing in Hebei province, the same company that produced the contaminated dumplings. The ministry also said it had stopped sale of all products from Tianyang although pesticide has only been found in the dumplings.

 

Half a dozen large supermarkets and department store chains have also taken off all Chinese processed foods from their shelves, even products not made by Tianyang.

 

Reaction of the food poisoning is particularly strong in Japan, which imports more Chinese food than the US. The Japanese health ministry is also under pressure to explain how thousands of tonnes of contaminated meat products managed to pass through imported food checks amid criticisms for failing to stop a series of domestic food safety scares.

 

Health minister Masuzoe Yoichi said the government had learnt of three people falling sick from dumplings in early January, but did not take action as Japan Tobacco said they were isolated cases.

                                                                              

However, spokesman for Japan Tobacco, Sugata Ryohei, said it took time for the company to realize that the cases were related, and caused by an agricultural pesticide. He added that Japan Tobacco has recalled 48,000 boxes of dumplings.

 

Japanese prime minister Fukuda Yasuo said they are trying to understand the current situation so as to plan for countermeasures.

 

Foreign minister Komura Masahiko told reporters that Tokyo is urging Beijing to fully investigate the food poisoning to avoid damaging economic ties between the two countries. The Chinese embassy in Tokyo has responded by saying the Chinese police are investigating the case.

 

China's foreign ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao said although no evidence of toxic agricultural chemicals were found in the dumplings, production of it has been stopped.