Japan Detects Pesticide in Meat Buns from China

Authorities in Japan, in the midst of a scare over Chinese-made dumplings, said Tuesday they also detected pesticide in meat buns imported from the country.

Methamidophos, the pesticide in the dumpling scare, was also found in meat buns in the western prefectures of Osaka and Hiroshima, officials in the two places said.

Steamed buns stuffed with meat, usually pork, are popular snacks across Japan and are often sold at convenience stores.

The buns were imported by an Osaka firm from a producer with the name Shandong, as in the eastern Chinese province, said Takakazu Imanishi, a municipal official in Osaka.

It was not immediately clear if anyone had fallen ill.

"I heard from Hiroshima that one of two people who ate the meat buns felt vertigo, but a doctor diagnosed that it was not directly linked to the pesticide," Imanishi said, adding that no health effects were noticed in Osaka.

Jiji Press, citing health ministry officials, said it was highly possible that the detected pesticide was a residual chemical from a farm. Health ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Thousands of Japanese people have complained of feeling ill after eating dumplings from China, with authorities confirming that 10 of them suffered pesticide poisoning.

A five-year-old girl was discharged from a hospital Monday, following a month of treatment in hospital.

Japan relies on imports for 60 percent of its food, with China the top supplier after the United States.

China, whose reputation as the world's manufacturing hub has been hit by a series of safety scares, has pledged to cooperate in the investigation and urged Japan not to rush to conclusions.

The food safety issue is expected to be high on the agenda when Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visits Tokyo starting Wednesday.

Source-AFP
SRM/L