International food fight

Some news from China-

BEIJING - Certain health supplements and raisins 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, turning the tables on the U.S. amid growing worries over dangerous Chinese products.

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.

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The companies were identified as K-Max Health Products Co., CMO Distribution Center of America, Inc., and Supervalu International Division.

The administration said K-Max and CMO exported health capsules, including bee pollen and bacteria-fighting supplements. Supervalu exported Sun-Maid Golden Raisins, it said.

The shipments from K-Max and Supervalu 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.

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The announcement was the second mention in recent days of China rejecting foreign food imports. Late last month, France's Groupe Danone SA said China seized five containers of Evian water in February because of concern over high bacteria levels.

Those came after concerns spiked over the safety of Chinese food exports following the deaths of cats and dogs in North America 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.

It will be interesting to see if a war is erupting between China and the USA over the products made by each or whether this and the French products are just isolated instances. Stay tuned.

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