Japan recalls 12 tonnes of Chinese dumplings tainted with insecticide
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | 10:53 AM ET
CBC News
Japanese health officials have ordered a recall of insecticide-tainted Chinese dumplings after one child ended up in a coma and nine others became ill.
The Health Ministry said Wednesday that 10 people experienced sharp abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea after eating the dumplings.
A five-year-old girl went into a coma after eating them although she later regained consciousness, authorities said. The girl's mother, two brothers and sister were in serious condition in hospital.
Tests on the dumplings, the containers and the patients' vomit revealed traces of methamidophos, an organic phosphorus insecticide. Authorities are unsure if the products were contaminated in China or Japan.
Importer JT Foods Co. Ltd. imported the affected products from Tianyang Food Processing, China's Hebei Foodstuffs Import & Export Group.
JT Foods, which estimates it distributed nearly 12 tonnes of dumplings, is also recalling 22 other products imported from its Chinese distributor, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. The products were sold east of Tokyo in the Chiba prefecture and in the western region of the country in the Hyogo prefecture.
Made-in-China products came under close scrutiny last year as a wide range of products, including toys and toothpaste, were recalled from the marketplace for health hazards. An extensive recall of pet food after authorities determined wheat gluten imported from China was tainted with melamine.
Chinese authorities have launched a series of high-profile safety campaigns, introducing reforms in the country's food, health and manufacturing sectors.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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