China produce safe despite scare
28 November 2006
Beijing responded Monday to concerns over food safety saying the vast majority of the produce in mainland China is safe and free of contamination, the South China Morning Post reported. Concerns were raised after an egg trader was detained for selling the toxic chemical dye Sudan Red to farmers in Hebei province. Sudan Red has also turned up in eggs in Hong Kong. In response to the scare, some 10,400 ducks were culled, 2,025 kilograms of red yolk duck eggs were destroyed and 800 kg of feed confiscated. China's agriculture ministry said checks on produce across the country found that 90% of food products were free of contamination. "Agriculture products are mostly safe and scare-free," ministry chief economist Zhang Yuxiang said in Beijing.