From the Financial Times:
When 10 people in Japan became ill after eating pesticide-tainted gyoza dumplings made in China, the resulting furore among the Japanese public demonstrated how fragile relations were between the two countries.
Even an attempt by both countries’ authorities to calm the situation through a joint investigation, which subsequently reached a stalemate, could not prevent the gyoza story from taking on a life of its own. Under public pressure, Japanese supermarkets, restaurants and school cafeterias withdrew Chinese produce. Imports of food from China, which account for 17 per cent of Japan’s external food purchases, fell by 20-30 per cent in the ensuing months.
