KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: An alert is out at all entry points in the country on the import of pork dumplings from China.

The Health Ministry alert, issued on Friday, comes after 175 Japanese fell ill over the last two months after eating Chinese-made dumplings containing pesticides, produced by Tianyang Food Processing.

The ministry's food quality control division director, Dr Abdul Rahim Mohamad, said the alert followed media reports.

However, there have been no reports by health authorities at entry points of such items coming in from China.

On the two brands of China-produced canned pork -- Maling and Gulong -- which had been removed from the shelves in Singapore after traces of nitrofurans, a banned cancer-causing antibiotic, were found, Dr Abdul Rahim said those imported into Malaysia were safe for consumption.

He told the New Straits Times that laboratory tests on samples taken from the canned pork since December showed no traces of nitrofurans or beta-agonists.

Singapore recalled the two brands from its stores after traces of nitrofurans were found in August last year.

Dr Abdul Rahim said that all food imports from China and other countries for the festive season were free of high levels of preservatives, pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics and excessive colouring.

"Our checks were mainly on preserved and fresh fruits, honey, seaweed, waxed ducks, prawns, dried meat and other seafood."

China is the third largest exporter of food to Malaysia.

Dr Abdul Rahim said his division had come up with a "watch list" to identify food products that needed stringent checks before being released to the market.

Last year, health officials found 12 consignments of tainted food products. So far this year, they have not received any such reports from state health departments.