The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China has published a list of unqualified food imported in January and February this year and a total of 593 food items, including Pringles and Coca-Cola, have appeared on the list.
The blacklist includes two batches of Pringles chips imported from the United States by Kang Rui Trade Company in Zhuhai Economic Special Zone. The chips are said to contain excessive potassium bromate, a chemical which may cause cancer. It also includes a type of Coca-Cola drink imported by Shanghai Xiaolong Information Trade Company that was found to contain too much benzoic acid.
In addition, the blacklist also includes some unqualified infant formula milk powder, including Aishi Mama imported from South Korea, and some other goods like coffee beans and effervescenceA tablets.
Though most of the food is put on the blacklist because of excessive content of harmful substances, some others appear on the list because of unqualified trademarks. For example, 13 kinds of food, including sardine and fish sausages, have been found to have improper tags.
According to AQSIQ, companies selling unqualified imported food will face a fine of no less than RMB50000.
