Questions remain about organic foods grown in China
22.05.12
It's no secret that China has a tainted food problem.
Since the melamine tragedy of 2008, when infant formula sickened thousands of babies and killed at least six, the country has faced a string of reported food dramas: Watermelons exploding from too much growth chemical, borax in beef, bleach in mushrooms, soy sauce made with arsenic and from human hair, and "eggs" created using chemicals, gelatin and paraffin.
Even melamine continues to show up. Chinese food imports are regularly turned away from U.S. ports because of melamine content, and last year Chinese police seized more than 26 tons of milk powder tainted with the chemical from an ice-cream maker.
Add to that China's notorious problem with corruption. Last summer it retried a journalist who reported on political corruption and sentenced him to eight more years in jail.
As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic program has decided to visit China more often.
"China is a major producer of organic products, and there are continual questions about the integrity of products coming from China," said Miles McEvoy, who heads the organic program.
Source: The Seattle Times