China blasts U.S. products' safety         

[June 08, 2007]  BEIJING (AP) -- Certain health supplements and raisins imported from the United States failed to meet Chinese safety standards and have been returned or destroyed, the country's food safety agency said Friday, turning the tables on the U.S. amid growing worries over dangerous Chinese products.

Inspectors in the ports of Ningbo and Shenzhen found bacteria and sulfur dioxide in products shipped by three American companies, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.

"The products failed to meet the sanitary standards of China," the agency said in a brief notice posted on its online site. No details were given on when or how the inspections were conducted.

Telephones at the administration's office were not answered on Friday.

The companies were identified as K-Max Health Products Co., CMO Distribution Center of America Inc. and SuperValu International Division.

The administration said K-Max and CMO exported health capsules, including bee pollen and bacteria-fighting supplements. SuperValu exported Sun-Maid golden raisins, it said.

The shipments from K-Max and SuperValu have been destroyed, and CMO's capsules were returned, the notice said.

The notice did not say which contaminants were found in which products, although sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in dried fruit. It said they were found in amounts that surpassed acceptable levels, but did not give any details.

"Local quality officials should step up the inspection and quarantine on imported food products from the U.S.," the notice said. "Chinese importers should also clarify food safety demands in contracts when importing U.S. food products, so as to lower the trade risk."

The announcement was the second mention in recent days of China rejecting foreign food imports. Late last month, France's Groupe Danone SA said China seized five containers of Evian water in February because of concern over high bacteria levels.

Those came after concerns spiked over the safety of Chinese food exports following the deaths of cats and dogs in North America, blamed on tainted pet food ingredients from China.

In recent months, U.S. inspectors have banned or turned away a growing number of Chinese exports, including monkfish containing life-threatening levels of pufferfish toxins, drug-laced frozen eel, and juice made with unsafe color additives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also stopped all imports of Chinese toothpaste to test for a potentially deadly chemical reportedly found in tubes sold in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Panama.

SuperValu International is part of SuperValu USA, headquartered in Eden Prarie, Minn. K-Max is a subsidiary of Kang Long Group Corp., which is based in San Bernadino, Calif. The Food and Drug Administration said in 2000 that CMO Distribution Center of America was based in Sarasota, Fla.

[Text copied from Associated Press file]