Chinese Imports Face Increased Scrutiny

July 2007

The list of tainted food ingredients imported from China continues to grow. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they will restrict five types of seafood raised in China due to contamination. And American food companies have followed suit, testing many ingredients imported from Chinese producers.

Chinese imports of catfish, basa, dace, eel, and shrimp have been detained by the FDA until importers can prove there are no restricted chemicals in the fish. Antibiotics known as nitrofuran and fluoroquinolone, as well as the antifungals malachite green and gentian violet, were identified in the fish. Concern about long-term, low-level exposure to the contaminants prompted the FDA's actions.

Many American companies, including General Mills, Kellogg, and Toy’R’Us, have increased inspections of imported Chinese ingredients following other contaminations in wheat gluten, toothpaste, and toys. Recent news has also revealed that although importers are required by law to label food products with their country of origin, many items often go unlabeled or marked incorrectly.