China shuts 180 food factories for using illegal chemicals-(as if"legal" ones are any better)

cnn ^ | 6/27/07 | cnn/ap

[Flavius]

BEIJING, China (AP) -- China has closed 180 food factories after inspectors found industrial chemicals being used in products from candy to seafood, state media said Wednesday.

The closures came amid a nationwide crackdown on shoddy and dangerous products launched in December that also uncovered use of recycled or expired food, the China Daily said.

Formaldehyde, illegal dyes, and industrial wax were found being used to make candy, pickles, crackers and seafood, it said, citing Han Yi, an official with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which is responsible for food safety.

"These are not isolated cases," Han, director of the administration's quality control and inspection department, was quoted as saying.

Han's admission was significant because the administration has said in the past that safety violations were the work of a few rogue operators, a claim which is likely part of a strategy to protect China's billions of dollars (euros) of food exports.

[Flavius]

how to protect golden goose or peking duck - alert

[Gorzaloon]

The closures came amid a nationwide crackdown on shoddy and dangerous products launched in December that also uncovered use of recycled or expired food, the China Daily said.

And all this time I thought that the doctrine of emptying ashtrays into the leftovers when the meal was done in Chinese restaurants was a cruel urban legend.

[DainBramage]

Original translation:

The crosures came amid a nationwide clackdown on shoddy and dangelous ploducts raunched in December that arso uncoveled use of lecycerd or expiled food, the China Dairy said.

[Wonder Warthog]

"..(as if"legal" ones are any better).."

A truly dumbass comment. Show me a non-chemical food, and I'll get you the Nobel prize.

[Gorzaloon]

"..(as if"legal" ones are any better).."

A truly dumbass comment. Show me a non-chemical food, and I'll get you the Nobel prize.

Sshhh. You'll wreck the whole Organic Food Industry.

[metmom]

ping

[BuffaloJack]

I will assume that this implies that China closed the factories for using toxic chemicals as opposed to chemicals normally added (even in the USA) as preservatives, moisteners, thickeners and flavor enhancers.
Thank you China.

[Westlander]

[kidd]

[Westlander]

Roasted Dog.

[GOPJ]

Does anyone know how long China's been using lead based paints on children's toys? If it's been a long time ( and test can be run on old toys) there might be an under story to all this -- either China just started criminal cutting corners ( not likely) or some large group or hedge fund is shorting Chinese markets big time, or top execs just happened to notice problems with Chinese goods at the exact same time and called their local MSM to report it.

Then again, maybe the press just woke up after many sleepy years - and discovered this story on their own ( again - not likely ). Someone is feeding stories to the MSM. The MSM doesn't do much original reporting anymore. They're often "fed" information... My guess? Someone's after Walmart or someone's shorting China. Walmart should check their Chinese goods - make positive reports public -- for their customers safety and their own financial security.

[zeugma]

Importing food from a nation without the rule of law is a recipe for disaster.

[Flavius]

you know that but some clowns even on here don’t get it

[mom4kittys]

[AuntB]

We should all be blasting these articles to Wal Mart and the $ stores, targets, etc. And STOP buying this junk!

[null and void]

“These are not isolated cases,”

No kidding.

[null and void]

Does anyone know how long China's been using lead based paints on children's toys? If it's been a long time ( and test can be run on old toys) there might be an under story to all this

One wonders if it tracks with the increase in autism.

Perhaps not lead, perhaps not mercury, but there are plenty of insidious poisons that would slip under the radar...

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

BWAhahahahaha,,,even “they” won’t eat it...;0)

[GOPJ]

Great minds and all - I just came up with the same idea - just a minute or so ago. Check my tag. Also, there’s been a big upswing in allergies in the last 30 years. Seems like everyone’s got them now. I wonder if there’s a connection.