A Chinese safety watchdog official confirmed the small amounts of pesticides found in meat buns sent to Japan. However, Chinese officials have also said that the contamination of frozen stuffed buns and friend pork rolls could have been caused by loopholes at two Japanese firms, which are subsidiaries of Nicky Foods Company based in Osaka, Japan.
Japanese media already reported this week that the pesticide, methamidophos, was detected in the frozen steamed stuffed buns from China and phorate, also a pesticide, was found in Chinese-made fried pork rolls. Some frozen mackerel, shipped to Japan by a Chinese-based company, were also found to be contaminated. Although Chinese officials maintain the mackerel came from other countries. China Daily reports:
The administration said the companies followed Japanese production procedures and standards, and were supervised by Japanese staff.
“The contamination is likely to have been caused by loopholes in the producers’ purchase of raw materials such as vegetables,” it said, indicating the companies might have bought from suppliers other than designated export-oriented farms.
Meanwhile, another AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) statement released on Friday said China had suspended all exports from the Shandong-based Wangyu Aquatic Food Company, whose mackerel products exported to Japan were allegedly contaminated with dichlorvos.
However, it said the mackerel were originally caught in Denmark and all flavorings except salt were provided by the Japanese importer.
Just yesterday, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan tried to calm the growing tensions caused by tainted foods between the two countries as he expressed his sympathy towards those who fell ill from contaminated Chinese-made dumplings earlier this year saying that the incident was of “great importance” to the Chinese government.
