Jul 10, 2007, 14:38 GMT
Beijing - Chinese quality inspection authorities announced that 14 companies have been put on a blacklist of companies no longer allowed to export their goods amid scandals involving fake or poor quality food and drug products, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.
Included on the list of products added were canned seafood or fruits due for export to Japan, Canada, the United States and Europe, Xinhua cited quality authorities as saying.
Some of the products contained unacceptable amounts of sulphur dioxide or bacteria, the report said.
The Chinese government takes international concerns about the possible contamination of food or other products from China seriously, the authorities added.
In May, the authorities detected two exporters that delivered wheat gluten and rice protein for pet food contaminated with melamine, which were later found to be responsible for the deaths of cats and dogs.
The firms investigated had provided false data, the Chinese inspection authorities said, adding that the firms were exceptional cases and that 99 per cent of all exported food from China met official requirements.
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