Agency denies cover-up over algae product safety
Source: Shanghai Daily |
April 11, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S food and drug agency defended itself yesterday against media reports claiming it covered up problems with excessive levels of metals in domestic supplies of spirulina -- a popular algae-based health supplement.
It is reported that the State Food and Drug Administration's allegedly conflicting statements about the Chinese spirulina industry triggered a probe into whether the agency was taking bribes.
The SFDA has struggled to recover its reputation since a former commissioner was executed in 2007 for taking bribes.
The agency said it stands by the March results of an inspection of a dozen spirulina brands that found only one containing excessive lead and arsenic. That brand, Conthealthy, is sold by the Xingfulai Pharmaceutical Group in eastern Fujian Province, The Associated Press reported.
But an internal SFDA document from February, first reported last month by Xinhua news agency, listed 13 brands suspected of having excessive lead, arsenic or mercury.
That internal report prompted Xinhua to order independent tests of spirulina, and the news agency reported last month that six out of eight store-bought samples had excessive levels of lead, including one that exceeded national limits by 820 percent.
The Economic Information Daily, reported on Monday that the SFDA's apparently conflicting reports had triggered a corruption investigation.
But the SFDA said the internal document referred to unconfirmed suspicions while the March 30 one was based upon laboratory tests, according to AP.
It is reported that the State Food and Drug Administration's allegedly conflicting statements about the Chinese spirulina industry triggered a probe into whether the agency was taking bribes.
The SFDA has struggled to recover its reputation since a former commissioner was executed in 2007 for taking bribes.
The agency said it stands by the March results of an inspection of a dozen spirulina brands that found only one containing excessive lead and arsenic. That brand, Conthealthy, is sold by the Xingfulai Pharmaceutical Group in eastern Fujian Province, The Associated Press reported.
But an internal SFDA document from February, first reported last month by Xinhua news agency, listed 13 brands suspected of having excessive lead, arsenic or mercury.
That internal report prompted Xinhua to order independent tests of spirulina, and the news agency reported last month that six out of eight store-bought samples had excessive levels of lead, including one that exceeded national limits by 820 percent.
The Economic Information Daily, reported on Monday that the SFDA's apparently conflicting reports had triggered a corruption investigation.
But the SFDA said the internal document referred to unconfirmed suspicions while the March 30 one was based upon laboratory tests, according to AP.
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