Trader Joe's Cuts Chinese Food Imports

With customers worried about the safety of food imported from China, Trader Joe's said yesterday it will withdraw garlic, frozen spinach, and other “single ingredient” items from its shelves by April 1, reports the Los Angeles Times. The discount gourmet retailer will continue selling items made with ingredients from China.

Although the 300-store chain says it believes the food is safe, China has been cited for using dangerous pesticides and for fertilizing its agricultural crops with sewage, as well as high levels of antibiotics in its seafood industry. The US has restricted the import of shrimp, eel and catfish because of excessive antibiotic and chemical residues. (More China food exports stories.)