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China Shutters Scores of Food Factories

Posted Jun 27, 07 12:49 PM CDT in World,  Business    Editor's Choice

(Newser) – The Chinese government has closed 180 factories that were using dangerous and illegal ingredients, such as formaldehyde, in food products. The relatively large number of plants casts serious doubt on Beijing's insistence that the recent rash of tainted products originated with a small number of sources, the AP reports: A government official said the shutdowns were "not isolated cases."

The ongoing food-safety investigation began in December, ahead of widespread reports of melamine in pet food and a dangerous antifreeze additive in toothpaste. The crackdown is part of the government's campaign to allay fears about the safety of Chinese food exports, but three-quarters of factories are small, private plants like the ones snagged in the investigation.

Source Associated Press

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A worker empties a bag of zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling, into a truck after they were confiscated from an illegal zongzi workshop in Beijing Wednesday June 13, 2007. Two tons of zongzi were confiscated...   (Associated Press)
An officer from the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce (BAIC) office speaks to journalists near fake or non-standard products on display at a BAIC food safety monitoring center in Beijing...   (Associated Press)
Boxes of Tianqi Toothpaste are seen at a supermarket in Chengdu, in China's Sichuan province Tuesday, June 12 2007. China's Communist Party called Saturday, June 16, 2007, for timely tests and improved...   (Associated Press)
Lab technicians with the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce (BAIC) center for food safety monitoring conduct tests on food products in Beijing Tuesday, June 12, 2007. China has some problems...   (Associated Press)
Chinese officers monitor a food safety hot line at the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce (BAIC) office in Beijing Tuesday, June 12, 2007. China has some problems with food safety but they...   (Associated Press)
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