Two senior quality control officials condemned certain reports
appearing in foreign media alleging that some Chinese food products
are unfit for human consumption during inspections in Beijing and
Tianjin yesterday.
"Some foreign media, especially those based in the US, have
wantonly reported on so called unsafe Chinese products. They are
turning white to black," Minister of the General Administration of
Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Li Changjiang
said.
This is the first time the administration has used such strong
words against foreign media reports on China's food safety.
Substandard Chinese products came into international spotlight
early this year after additives exported from China allegedly
contaminated some pet food in North America.
A few foreign media reported that some toothpaste, seafood, toys
and even tires made in China were not safe, fanning global passions
against Chinese products in general.
Li conceded that there were problems with certain domestic
companies, but said: "One company's problem doesn't make it a
country's problem. If some food products are below standard, you
can't say all the country's food is unsafe."
He cited records to show that more than 99 percent of Chinese
food exports to the US in the past three years had met quality
standards, about the same, or even higher, than the equivalent
figure for US food exports to China.
During another inspection in neighboring Tianjin Municipality,
the administration's Party Secretary Li Chuanqing, too, criticized
the foreign media for arousing unnecessary fears.
He said some foreign companies were behind the move to
exaggerate the fear of substandard Chinese products. This is taking
recourse to unfair competition.
Both the officials said the ongoing inspections showed that
Chinese products were safe. The companies they visited included the
Huiyuan Beverage and Food Group Company, Liubiju Food Company and
the Tianjin Lantian Group Company.
The latest national survey shows that about 30 percent of the
country's 500,000 food-processing units are medium- or large-scale
companies, 10 percent more than the previous figure, Li Changjiang
said. And their products account for more than 90 percent of the
market share.
(China Daily July 16, 2007)