August 28, 2006

China orders tougher inspections for seafood after contamination case

China Friday (Aug 25) ordered health authorities across the country to strengthen supervision of its river or seafood, after 87 people in Beijing fell ill after eating raw or half-cooked snails.

The Ministry of Health ordered all restaurants to destroy aquatic products contaminated with parasites or disease-causing microbes, in line with food safety requirements while promising harsh punishment for violators.

Amazonian snails are a popular delicacy in big Chinese cities like Beijing.

The affected patients were diagnosed with a disease caused by parasites that affects the brain and spinal cord which can lead to meningitis, according to the Beijing Health Bureau. No deaths have been reported. 

All the patients ate raw or undercooked Amazonian snails. The bureau said the infection was caused by processing problems in the restaurant, which failed to remove eel worms on the snails.

The municipal food safety office last week halted the trading and processing of the snails in all agricultural markets, supermarkets, department stores and restaurants.