Showing posts with label china. Show all posts
Showing posts with label china. Show all posts
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Exploding Watermelons
I am gemused to read of problems in China wrt exploding watermelons.
Seemingly, as a result of using certain chemicals to promote faster growth, there has been a spate of exploding watermelons in China's eastern Jiangsu province.
The affected watermelons begin to split near the top, and within minutes burst open to reveal a jaundiced yellowish-pink flesh. In one Jiangsu town, a watermelon exploded as an elderly woman was cutting it open.
Unsurprisngly the chemicals used aren't terribly good for the human digestive system either!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Dangerous Dumplings
Dangerous Dumplings
The recent bout of food poisoning caused by contaminated Chinese made frozen dumplings, imported into Japan, has damaged Sino Japanese relations.
A pesticide called methamidophos was found in the dumplings made by Tian Yang Food.
The Japanese government are to send a team of officials and experts to China to investigate the case.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, said that the four-member team will be dispatched to conduct on-the-spot inspection of the factory and exchange views with officials of the Chinese government.
It is not yet clear whether the food products were contaminated during the production and transportation process in China. However, small holes have been found in some of the packages.
Several hundred people throughout Japan have reported discomfort due, allegedly to having Chinese food in the last few days. However, the number of people confirmed by the Japanese government as suffering from eating the poisoned dumpling remains at 10.
The recent bout of food poisoning caused by contaminated Chinese made frozen dumplings, imported into Japan, has damaged Sino Japanese relations.
A pesticide called methamidophos was found in the dumplings made by Tian Yang Food.
The Japanese government are to send a team of officials and experts to China to investigate the case.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, said that the four-member team will be dispatched to conduct on-the-spot inspection of the factory and exchange views with officials of the Chinese government.
It is not yet clear whether the food products were contaminated during the production and transportation process in China. However, small holes have been found in some of the packages.
Several hundred people throughout Japan have reported discomfort due, allegedly to having Chinese food in the last few days. However, the number of people confirmed by the Japanese government as suffering from eating the poisoned dumpling remains at 10.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Food Safe For Olympics
Food Safe For Olympics
China has reassured prospective visitors and athletes to next year's Olympics, that the food is safe and that they should not be concerned by recent Chinese food scandals; as many safety measures are being put in place for the Games.
China's food inspectors announced last week that a six-month crackdown had uncovered industrial oils, acid, cancer-causing chemicals and other dangerous ingredients in thousands of everyday foods sold domestically.
Beijing State Administration for Industry and Commerce said that dangers do exist, but it is taking extensive measures to ensure quality and safety in 2008.
Round-the-clock guards will be on duty in Olympic kitchens, food storage areas will be under video surveillance and food transport vehicles will be fitted with global positioning systems.
White mice will also be used to test food to be consumed by the athletes.
China has reassured prospective visitors and athletes to next year's Olympics, that the food is safe and that they should not be concerned by recent Chinese food scandals; as many safety measures are being put in place for the Games.
China's food inspectors announced last week that a six-month crackdown had uncovered industrial oils, acid, cancer-causing chemicals and other dangerous ingredients in thousands of everyday foods sold domestically.
Beijing State Administration for Industry and Commerce said that dangers do exist, but it is taking extensive measures to ensure quality and safety in 2008.
Round-the-clock guards will be on duty in Olympic kitchens, food storage areas will be under video surveillance and food transport vehicles will be fitted with global positioning systems.
White mice will also be used to test food to be consumed by the athletes.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Chinese Food Scare
Chinese Food Scare
Another food scare has hit the already badly dented reputation of Chinese food companies.
China's quality control watchdog found excessive amounts of preservatives in 13% of 46 chili products tested across the country recently.
The products came from 38 companies in 12 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing and Shanghai.
The administration also found that 8% of dried vegetables and dried fruits had failed safety tests, due mainly to excessive colour additives and the presence of sulphur dioxide.
China last month said it would tighten up inspections nationwide after a number of dangerous food products was found in domestic and export markets.
In one of the highest-profile cases, pet food contaminated by additives originating in China is suspected of killing thousands of dogs and cats in the United States.
Another food scare has hit the already badly dented reputation of Chinese food companies.
China's quality control watchdog found excessive amounts of preservatives in 13% of 46 chili products tested across the country recently.
The products came from 38 companies in 12 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing and Shanghai.
The administration also found that 8% of dried vegetables and dried fruits had failed safety tests, due mainly to excessive colour additives and the presence of sulphur dioxide.
China last month said it would tighten up inspections nationwide after a number of dangerous food products was found in domestic and export markets.
In one of the highest-profile cases, pet food contaminated by additives originating in China is suspected of killing thousands of dogs and cats in the United States.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Death Sentence
Death Sentence
China has sentenced the former head of its food and drugs agency to death for corruption, as the government sought to contain a wave of scandals over health safety.
Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was convicted on charges of taking bribes and dereliction of duty.
The sentence reflects the importance that China's leaders are giving to the issues of corruption and food safety, as they grapple with a series of safety breaches involving toxins in food and other products.
Lucky for the management of some of our supermarkets, and food companies (recently tainted by food scandals) that they are not based in China!
China has sentenced the former head of its food and drugs agency to death for corruption, as the government sought to contain a wave of scandals over health safety.
Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was convicted on charges of taking bribes and dereliction of duty.
The sentence reflects the importance that China's leaders are giving to the issues of corruption and food safety, as they grapple with a series of safety breaches involving toxins in food and other products.
Lucky for the management of some of our supermarkets, and food companies (recently tainted by food scandals) that they are not based in China!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Vaz Urges Immigration Relaxation
Vaz Urges Immigration Relaxation
Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester, has urged the government to relax the immigration system, so that cooks from India can obtain work permits to work in Indian restaurants in Britain.
Vaz told the House of Commons that Indian and Chinese restaurants in Leicester were facing a crisis due to shortage of cooks.
Vaz stated that the demand for cooks from India and China was increasing, since many of the founders of Indian and Chinese restaurants who opened their establishments in the 1960s were approaching retirement and their children had no interest in running them.
Vaz claims that Britain has the largest number of Indian restaurants outside of India, approximately 10,000. They serve some two million meals a week and the sector is worth over £3BN to the British economy.
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that he did not agree but promised to monitor the system.
There is no reason to assume that chefs, of non Asian origin, cannot be trained to cook Asian meals.
Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester, has urged the government to relax the immigration system, so that cooks from India can obtain work permits to work in Indian restaurants in Britain.
Vaz told the House of Commons that Indian and Chinese restaurants in Leicester were facing a crisis due to shortage of cooks.
Vaz stated that the demand for cooks from India and China was increasing, since many of the founders of Indian and Chinese restaurants who opened their establishments in the 1960s were approaching retirement and their children had no interest in running them.
Vaz claims that Britain has the largest number of Indian restaurants outside of India, approximately 10,000. They serve some two million meals a week and the sector is worth over £3BN to the British economy.
Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said that he did not agree but promised to monitor the system.
There is no reason to assume that chefs, of non Asian origin, cannot be trained to cook Asian meals.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
China Food Scare
China Food Scare
Hong Kong's health secretary has stated that China often fails to inform the territory of dangers in food supplies.
This statement was as a result of tests on five kinds of freshwater fish imported from China, that showed that they contained a banned suspected carcinogen, recently found in eels for sale there.
A Hong Kong health official said China, which produces 90% of the world's supply of farmed eels, failed to inform it when it issued an urgent nationwide health alert last month.
That alert said the eels could contain the industrial dye malachite green, a toxin widely used as a disinfectant on fish farms which has been shown to cause cancer in rats.
Tests then found the chemical in five different species of freshwater fish, that are regularly eaten in Hong Kong.
Needless to say, Hong Kong have now banned these fish in the territory.
Hong Kong's health secretary has stated that China often fails to inform the territory of dangers in food supplies.
This statement was as a result of tests on five kinds of freshwater fish imported from China, that showed that they contained a banned suspected carcinogen, recently found in eels for sale there.
A Hong Kong health official said China, which produces 90% of the world's supply of farmed eels, failed to inform it when it issued an urgent nationwide health alert last month.
That alert said the eels could contain the industrial dye malachite green, a toxin widely used as a disinfectant on fish farms which has been shown to cause cancer in rats.
Tests then found the chemical in five different species of freshwater fish, that are regularly eaten in Hong Kong.
Needless to say, Hong Kong have now banned these fish in the territory.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Rabbit Shortage
Rabbit Shortage
Those of you with a penchant for eating rabbit in restaurants, may have a hard time satisfying your craving in the USA.
It seems that there is a shortage of rabbit meat there.
Demand for rabbit meat has surged in recent years, but supply has declined.
It seems that the number of US producers has been in a steady decline for the last 60 years.
Therefore the US now imports rabbit meat, mainly from China, in 2004 the US imported more than 1 million pounds of rabbit meat.
Those of you with a penchant for eating rabbit in restaurants, may have a hard time satisfying your craving in the USA.
It seems that there is a shortage of rabbit meat there.
Demand for rabbit meat has surged in recent years, but supply has declined.
It seems that the number of US producers has been in a steady decline for the last 60 years.
Therefore the US now imports rabbit meat, mainly from China, in 2004 the US imported more than 1 million pounds of rabbit meat.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Chinese Beer Recalled
Chinese Beer Recalled
The Korea Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall of all beer imported from China, amid recent reports that it contains formaldehyde.
The order follows recent Chinese media reports that formaldehyde, a harmful chemical that can cause cancer, was used by Chinese beer producers to remove deposited material in the alcoholic beverage.
The report alleged that 95% of all Chinese beer contains formaldehyde, at levels as high as six times the 0.2 milligram per litre recommendation in China's food safety law.
The recalled beer will be tested, as well as of all Chinese beer brought into the country in the future.
The Korea Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall of all beer imported from China, amid recent reports that it contains formaldehyde.
The order follows recent Chinese media reports that formaldehyde, a harmful chemical that can cause cancer, was used by Chinese beer producers to remove deposited material in the alcoholic beverage.
The report alleged that 95% of all Chinese beer contains formaldehyde, at levels as high as six times the 0.2 milligram per litre recommendation in China's food safety law.
The recalled beer will be tested, as well as of all Chinese beer brought into the country in the future.
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