China tells Japan it cares about food safety: official

TOKYO (AFP) - Chinese food experts promised Japan Monday they were serious about consumer safety, an official said, amid a nationwide scare over Chinese-made dumplings that left hundreds complaining of illness.

Ten people were diagnosed with pesticide poisoning after eating the frozen meat dumplings, prompting major foodmakers to recall food products manufactured at the same factory in China.

A team of Chinese experts, headed by food safety official Li Chunfeng, held a second day of closed-door talks on Monday at Japan’s Cabinet Office.

The meeting was originally scheduled to end in the morning but was to extended to Monday afternoon, Japanese officials said.

"The talks took place in a very friendly atmosphere — which is what the Chinese side asked us to emphasise to you," said Masaki Ichikawa, head of the international affairs division at the Cabinet Office.

"I believe that China’s position, as expressed by Li at the start of the talks, is that this is also an important issue for them," Ichikawa said.

China — Japan’s largest trading partner and second biggest supplier of imported food — has denied Tokyo’s allegations that the dumplings themselves contained pesticides.

The global reputation of China’s vital manufacturing industry was seriously damaged last year by a string of overseas safety scandals and product recalls involving the country’s export goods.

The health ministry said the scare prompted 950 people to seek medical treatment for possible intoxication after eating Chinese-made foods. Ten were diagnosed with poisoning including a girl in serious condition.

Japanese police have said they were investigating a report of a small tear on a pack of 20 dumplings that made a family ill, opening up the possibility of deliberate tampering.