>JAPAN - Worries have erupted regarding the safety of imported food products from China. This is a situation totally different from a series of food mislabeling cases that involved wrongly labeled origins and expiration dates.
A growing number of cases have been reported of people not only in Chiba and Hyogo prefectures, but in various regions suffering nausea and diarrhea after eating frozen gyoza dumplings made at a factory belonging to Hebei Foodstuffs Import and Export Group Tianyang Food Processing in Hebei Province, China.
A large amount of methamidophos, an organic phosphorus agricultural chemical, was detected in the gyoza and in its packaging.
A full disclosure of the extent of the food-poisoning cases and their spread is needed most of all.
There have been reports in the past of more than the standard amount of agricultural chemicals being found in imported food products from China. However, victims in the current cases include a child who became seriously ill after eating the food. It is believed the chemical level in the food was at a near lethal level.
Clues point to production
The production, usage and import of methamidophos is banned in Japan. Inspected packages of frozen gyoza have not revealed any damage. The most probable conclusion is that the chemicals made it into the products during the manufacturing process in China.
China's food inspection authorities released a statement saying it is taking the situation seriously and will release its findings on its investigations.
We hope they will keep their word and that the Chinese authorities will thoroughly investigate the incidents.
Importers that placed orders to the Chinese factory in question should make their own investigations as they have the responsibility of providing satisfactory explanations and preventive measures to Japanese consumers.
It also is worrisome that it took too long for announcements to be made to the public after the first cases were reported.
Reaction too slow
The first food poisoning regarding frozen gyoza was found on Dec 28 in Chiba. Additional cases were seen on Jan 5 in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, and on Jan 22 in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. Police and public health centres in each city learned of the food poisonings and followed through with investigations. But it was only on Tuesday (Jan 29) when it was found that frozen food products from the same factory in China had caused all these problems.
In the cases of Chiba and Takasago, if investigators had known the damage was coming from the same frozen gyoza brands, the other cases, such as in Ichikawa, might have been prevented. It is necessary to examine how authorities handled this problem and to strengthen the partnership between authorities.
Japan's quarantine system to check imported foods also is insufficient. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry makes a sample survey by choosing about 10 per cent of imported foods. But for agricultural chemicals, it surveys mainly perishable foods. Inspection methods need to be reviewed.
Also, in various parts of China, large food-poisoning cases caused by residual agricultural chemicals and other substances have happened one after another. We have to question whether China as a whole plays too fast-and-loose with "food safety". If China does not improve its attitude toward food safety, a fundamental solution to this problem will be difficult.
In December at the first meeting under a new framework for ministerial dialogue to enhance mutually beneficial ties, held in Beijing, Japan and China agreed to cooperate on food safety. Japan needs to now ask China to severely improve its situation surrounding food safety and also work to help China improve its food management.
