Japan calls on China to step up food safety
Posted: 31 January 2008 1618 hrs
Photos 1 of 1 
Chinese frozen food, imported by Japan Tobacco (JT)
Foods Related News 
• Ten in Japan ill from
Chinese dumplings
TOKYO: Japan called on China Thursday to review its food
safety standards amid a nationwide scare after at least 10 people
fell ill from eating frozen dumplings made in China.
The Japanese cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss action
after the food poisoning, as television networks broadcast horror
stories from people who said they felt near death after eating the
dumplings.
Authorities were investigating more reported cases of people
falling ill since the news broke Wednesday, as a five-year-old girl
remained in serious condition.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, the government's number
two, tried to reassure consumers that Japan already has standing
discussions with China, its top trading partner, on the safety of
food imports.
"We don't want to think that different countries have different
standards on safety. But perhaps the Chinese side might have
thought things are OK as they've said they're '99 per cent safe,'"
Machimura told a press conference.
"Despite the claim, these incidents are happening. We want the
Chinese authorities to investigate what happened. That's where we
will start," he said.
Japan already called on China to ensure safety standards following
scandals over Chinese-made pet food and toys sickening animals and
endangering children in the United States.
China has been hit hard by increasingly frequent reports of
dangerous products being recalled overseas ranging from seafood and
vegetables to tyres and toys.
Machimura said Japan has invited Chinese officials to come to learn
about chemical residues and inspection technologies.
TV Asahi interviewed family members in the western town of Takasago
who said they spent between 10 days to three weeks in hospitals
after eating the dumplings.
"They tasted bitter. I felt dizzy some 30 seconds after I had them
and collapsed," said an 18-year-old boy, who like other family
members asked not to be identified.
Five minutes later his 51-year-old father's body started
twitching.
"With so much nausea and diarrhoea, I thought for two days that I
was dying," he said.
The 47-year-old mother said she could not walk or talk.
"My whole body was paralysed and my eyes kept watering," she said.
"I don't want to buy frozen food anymore." - AFP/ac
