SHANGHAI (XFN-ASIA) - China's quality control watchdog said 593 food items
imported into the country in January and February were found unfit for
consumption due to traces of harmful substances.
It said it has banned sales of a soft drink made by Coca-Cola and two
flavours of Procter and Gamble's Pringles potato crisps.
Two batches of Pringles potato chips, "spicy salad sauce" and "cripy baked"
flavours, imported from the US by Zhuhai-based Kangrui Trade Co were found to
contain potassium bromate, a chemical which may cause cancer, it said on its
website.
Coca-Cola's berry-flavoured Fanta soft-drink imported by Shanghai Xiaolong
Information Trade Co from South Korea was also banned for containing too much
benzoic acid, which can attack the liver and the kidneys.
Vietnam coffee beans from Nestle's Dongguan Branch Company were found to be
infected with beetles, the General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine of China said.
Some companies were also accused of using unqualified trademarks, it said.
Firms would be fined a minimum of 50,000 yuan, and be banned from selling
the named items.
Beijing has stepped up its monitoring of product safety, after a string of
scandals last year over Chinese-made goods ranging from food to toys.
afp
-
xfnrc
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content,
including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior
written consent of Thomson Financial News.
|