>JAPAN - The number of people who complained of sickness after eating frozen food products made in China has surged to 368 in 30 prefectures as of Thursday (Jan 31), The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
It was revealed Wednesday that 10 people in three families in Chiba and Hyogo prefectures showed symptoms of food poisoning between Dec 28 and Jan 22 after eating frozen gyoza dumplings imported by JT Foods Co, an affiliate of Japan Tobacco Inc., and nine were hospitalised.
The two prefectural police forces found methamidophos, an organic phosphorus agricultural chemical, in the dumplings and in their packaging.
The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry on Thursday urged companies across the nation to stop selling and importing products from the Chinese company that exported the contaminated dumplings.
The ministry released the names of the 18 importers in Tokyo and four prefectures and their products.
Toshiro Shirasu, administrative vice minister at the Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry Ministry, said Thursday the government would investigate the use of agricultural chemicals in China via the Japanese Embassy there.
According to JT Foods, the frozen gyoza products in question are Co-op Tezukuri Gyoza (handmade gyoza dumplings) and Chuka de Gochiso Hitokuchi Gyoza (delicious Chinese-style bite-size dumplings).
The dumplings were made at a factory of Hebei Foodstuffs Import and Export Group Tianyang Food Processing in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, according to JT Foods.
The Yomiuri Shimbun also learned Tianyang Food products have been served to at least 262 primary, middle and high schools and kindergartens in 18 prefectures. No one at the schools has complained of food poisoning symptoms.
On Wednesday evening, JT sent an official of its quality control department to Tianyang Food's plant, but the official failed to obtain samples because he arrived after Chinese authorities inspected the site.
However, the JT official did find records of chemical residue examinations of raw materials as well as records regarding vegetable farming.
The official plans to investigate if it was possible for methamidophos to become mixed into the food products during the production process. He also will question plant workers. The investigation is expected to take at least a week, and JT says it may send more officials.
JT Foods received about 700 inquiries and complaints on Wednesday and Thursday.
