China rejects US capsules, raisins for bacteria

BEIJING, June 8 (Reuters) China said today it had destroyed or returned nutritional supplement capsules and raisins imported from the United States after detecting a higher-than-normal amount of bacteria.

The move comes as China itself faces international criticism, especially in the United States, over a series of scandals that have plagued Chinese food, drugs and other products from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.

Health capsules imported from K-Max Health Products and CMO Distribution Centers of America, Inc. were detected to have high coliform and other bacteria, the quarantine bureau said.

Raisins from Supervalu International also exceeded the Chinese standard, it said in a statement posted on its Web site (www.aqsiq.gov.cn).

It did not give any value or volume of the goods.

The companies were not immediately available for comment.

''The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine asks all local departments to increase quarantine examinations of foods imported from the United States,'' said the administration.

French food group Danone said last month that five container loads of Evian had failed inspection by Chinese authorities who had found the mineral water contained an excessive amount of bacteria.

REUTERS KK KN1242