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China Bans Coca-Cola's Fanta for Contamination
AFP
May 9, 2008
SHANGHAI (AFP) — China said Friday it had banned sales of a soft drink
made by Coca-Cola and two flavours of Procter and Gamble's Pringles
potato crisps due to fears they contained harmful substances.
China's quality control watchdog reported on its website that 593
food items imported in January and February were unfit for consumption
after traces of harmful substances were found.
Two batches of Pringles potato chips, "spicy salad sauce" and "cripy
baked" flavours, imported from the United States by Zhuhai-based Kangrui
Trade Company were found to contain potassium bromate, a chemical
which may cause cancer.
Coca-Cola's berry-flavoured Fanta soft-drink imported by Shanghai
Xiaolong Information Trade Company from South Korea was also banned
for containing too much benzoic acid, which can attack the liver and
the kidneys.
Vietnam coffee beans from Nestle's Dongguan Branch Company were found
to be infected with beetles, the General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China said.
Some companies were also accused of using unqualified trademarks,
it said.
Firms would be fined a minimum of 50,000 yuan (7,140 dollars), and
be banned from selling the named items.
Beijing has stepped up its monitoring of product safety, after a string
of scandals last year over Chinese-made goods ranging from food to
toys.
But despite the tightened supervision, the scares have continued.
This year at least 10 Japanese people were hospitalised after eating
Chinese-made dumplings laced with pesticide, although China denies
the contamination took place at one of its factories.
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