Certain health supplements and raisins imported from the US failed to meet Chinese safety standards and have been returned or destroyed, the country's food safety agency said yesterday, turning the tables on the US amid growing worries over dangerous Chinese products.
Inspectors in the ports of Ningbo and Shenzhen found bacteria and sulfur dioxide in products shipped by three US companies, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.
"The products failed to meet the sanitary standards of China," the agency said in a brief notice posted on its Web site.
No details were given on when or how the inspections had been conducted.
Telephones at the administration's office were not answered yesterday.
The companies were identified as K-Max Health Products Co, CMO Distribution Center of America, Inc, and Pervalu International Division.
The administration said K-Max and CMO exported health capsules, including bacteria-fighting supplements and honey.
Pervalu exported raisins, it said.
The shipments from K-Max and Pervalu have been destroyed and CMO's capsules were returned, the notice said.
The notice did not say which contaminants were found in which products, although sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in dried fruit.
It said they were found in amounts that surpassed acceptable levels, but did not give any details.
The announcement was the second mention in the past few days of China rejecting foreign food imports.
Late last month, France's Groupe Danone SA said China seized five containers of Evian water in February because of concern over high bacteria levels.
Those came after concerns spiked over the safety of Chinese food exports following the deaths of cats and dogs in North America blamed on tainted pet food ingredients from China.