Japan calls on China to step up food safety

Jan 31, 2008

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 percent 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 tires 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 diarrhea, 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 paralyzed and my eyes kept watering," she said. "I don't want to buy frozen food anymore."