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kuchikomi

'Food terrorism' a new concern in China-Japan rift

63 Comments

In a matter of weeks from mid-September, Japan-China relations have chilled to a level not seen in recent memory.

"In China, Japanese nationals have been singled out for attacks, such as the hot broth from a bowl of noodles being flung on a Japanese customer, or a man assaulted on the street in Hong Kong," a Japanese exchange student in China tells Shukan Jitsuwa (Oct 18).

"There's also been rumors going around that Japanese women in China were raped. Everybody's terrified that sooner or later one of these rumors will prove to be true."

With some Japanese in China afraid to go out in public, another concern has surfaced: that something will happen in Japan as well.

"It's 'food terrorism,'" says a source employed by one of Japan's security agencies. "Concerns have surfaced that the incident of poisoned 'gyoza' (pot-sticker dumplings) will be repeated. The existence has been confirmed of Chinese terrorists who may be plotting to lace food imports bound for Japan with poison, moved by the slogan 'Ai guo wu sui' (no guilt for criminal acts perpetuated in the name of patriotism)."

The previous incident dates back four years, when 10 Japanese children and adults who had consumed frozen gyoza produced by Tenyo Shokuhin in China and sold through a cooperative in Japan reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Fortunately there were no fatalities.

It was determined that the gyoza had been laced with an agricultural pesticide.

"Initially when the news broke, China tried to avoid any responsibility, insisting that the poison had been added after the food arrived in Japan," says a source described as an "Foreign Ministry agent." "Several months later, however, similar reports of poisoning occurred in China, and the police, who were concerned over protests, announced they'd arrested a temporary worker at Tenyo Shokuhin, who had poisoned the gyoza out of dissatisfaction over wages. The incident was reported in China via the Internet and in newspapers, so Chinese are well aware of what happened."

But now Japan's security apparatus is concerned that terrorists with "patriotic" motives will adopt similar measures.

"We've also received data concerning this via the CIA," says the aforementioned security source. "The plot involves a fanatical right-wing Chinese organization that is planning to pay some poor worker at a factory to poison food. In China now, the gap between rich and poor has widened remarkably and education in morals has been lacking. The data we've obtained appears to be highly accurate."

About 60% of the vegetables, sea foods and other semi-processed and frozen foods imported into Japan are sourced from China. Over the last decade, the volume of imports have jumped fivefold.

"Gyoza are not the only item to be concerned about," says a journalist covering foreign affairs. "Japan imports 'udon' (a type of noodle), croquettes, rice pilaf dishes, hamburgers, cutlets and so on. Likewise for frozen vegetables -- there are potatoes, 'edamame' (unshelled soya beans), string beans, spinach, corn, broccoli, mixed vegetables and so on. Japan is dependent on China for over half the vegetables on its dining tables. It's occurred to practically anybody that workers, either through bribery or acting out of a sense of righteous resentment are capable of poisoning a batch.

"Should such a thing occur," he adds, "panic would break out in Japan. The controversy over the Senkakus would disappear."

"The Noda-led government has no ability to contain the present situation," remarks the aforementioned security source. "The police and foreign ministry security groups and the special intelligence unit attached to the cabinet have been collating this data and issued warnings, but to be frank, it's like trying to grab hold of a cloud -- there are limits to what we can accomplish. All we can do is go on collecting the data."

Despite possible blows to its trade, tourism and retail sectors, the magazine warns, Japan will need to maintain close vigilance for the duration.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

63 Comments
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I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese government secretly endorse this.

16 ( +28 / -12 )

And I wouldn't be surprised if some Japanese ultra-rightists poison Chinese food just as they they have poisoned Japan-China relations and the minds of many Japanese. Although the Japanese government may not endorse this, I would not be surprised if the opposition LDP or an influential city governor does.

-14 ( +16 / -30 )

This is not going to end well. It's not going to go away until one side completely caves and admits they are wrong. Sadly, neither Japan or China is capable of this. Not with their history.

-14 ( +14 / -27 )

This sounds a lot like those rumors that "the Koreans are poisoning the wells" after the 1923 Kanto Earthquake. They were NOT poisoning the wells. But it didn't matter as thousands were brutally murdered, even having their genitals cut off and their dead bodies stabbed at. This was done not only by average citizens, but also the Japanese police. Disgusting...

1 ( +14 / -13 )

For sake of global environmental protection, people should consume as much local food as they can. It's always wrong to import so much food from other countries so isn't it good timing for people to change their food usage habbit? For food poisoned cases, food exporter and importer as well as custom officials need to take responsibilities, whoever can do it except them? To try to blame low level worker is simply negligence of duty.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Ha, there's an obvious and easy solution to this problem. Just tell the employees at the factory that the same foods they prepare and package are being served in the workers' cafeteria!

18 ( +19 / -1 )

smithinjapan@If you think Japan's food safety can be safeguarded by a few dozen overworked food inspectors at the nation's ports of entry, you may be in for a nasty surprise. A couple of years back an investigative article said they passed several tons of imported animal feed that had been officially banned due to fears of mad cow disease. That was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The governments, media and, in some cases, citizens of both countries are shamelessly fuelling rascism in a tit-for-tat discourse. Isolated incidents and uncorroberated rumours are blown out of all proportion.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Any Japanese parent that allows their child to consume food imported from China is guilty of child endangerment. This has nothing to do with the island conflict, or the threat of food terrorism. Chinese themselves are poised by Chinese food. Don't forget the 2008 Chinese milk scandal where Chinese dairy producers were adding industrial chemical to milk - You are INSANE if you knowingly consume Chinese sourced food.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

About 60% of the vegetables, sea foods and other semi-processed and frozen foods imported into Japan are sourced from China. Over the last decade, the volume of imports have jumped fivefold.

They could of course just open up their agricultural sector to the US and the rest of the transpacific pact, and get cheaper foods with better quality control.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

What about "media terrorism," where they spread horror stories to get A hyped up and angry about B?

This article doesn't say that ANYTHING happened.

It says there are "concerns about ..." and "rumours ..."

To cap it all, the article claims that they have received "data about a plot to poison food."

What data exactly, they don't say, who they don't say and when they don't say.

This article is best ignored.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

@Farmboy

Have you ever heard of Gutter oil?

"Pride in their product" and "Chinese merchant" doesn't fit in the same sentence.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

basroil, if your statistics are correct no doubt Japanese people are already poisoned .

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Even before the dispute over the Senkakus, safety was already a chief concern with Chinese products. The US and the EU learnt it at their own expense. Read this article if you've never heard about it

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2008/january/tradoc_137533.pdf

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"It has been a wave of stomach bug over Germany - over 11 000 children have been affected by vomiting and diarrhea.

Now singled frozen strawberries out as the culprit.

The berries came from China."

This has happened recently in Germany.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I really hope that no one actually does do something like poisoning the food. What good will it achieve? The right-wing nuts already refuse to eat anything that comes out of China. The politicians wouldn't be seing anything like this one their plates either, I assume. So that leaves the people who would be affected would more than likely be your average joe. I hope that both countries see what a danger this could be and really step up to protect agaisnt it, but I think that is just a pie in the sky dream.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Amidst the bitter acrimony, there's a heartwarming news report from Fuzhou China about compassionate locals aiding a Japanese tourist who lost his money and passport upon his arrival at the train station where he ending up sleeping for a few weeks. . Some nice folks provided him with food and found a Japanese speaking Chinese student to contact the Japan consulate for help in getting him home.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

akkk1

Amidst the bitter acrimony, there's a heartwarming news report from Fuzhou China about compassionate locals aiding a Japanese tourist who lost his money and passport upon his arrival at the train station where he ending up sleeping for a few weeks.

It just goes to show that there is nothing wrong with Chinese, Muslim, Japanese, Korean, American, etc., people.

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that their governments and those who control them are necessarily good.

There are people in the world who seem to delight in whipping "the masses" up into a frenzy and then sitting back to watch the "show" from a safe office or bunker somewhere. These nutcases are not confined to any one country, political or religious persuasion.

Fortunately, the number of good far outnumber the bad.

Although, there are some who wouldn't like you to know this.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

In this Japan - China dispute, media has played a very negative role in both countries. Please do not make and spread rumours, Japanese media. You should play a positive role to promote a good relationship between the two countries, not make and spread rumours to damage the relationship. At the moment, the situation is so bad. Why you want to put more petro on the fire?

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Japan is dependent on China for over half the vegetables on its dining tables"

I'm not dependent on China for hardly any of the vegetables I eat in Japan. I know this because I eat most meals at home, and the veggies I buy are almost all grown in Japan ( mostly Kanto ), I buy broccoli from the U.S.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Good grief, I guess I have to start eating more veggies from China, lol.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's interesting that at the moment, this article is No 1 on the "Most Popular" list, yet there are only 27 comments.

It seems that it's a headline that gets attention, but when people actually read the article, they can't even be bothered to comment.

I agree with Davidake and billyshears.

Media should show a little more responsibility for the crap they turn out.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It will happen again and again and again

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Virtuoso: "smithinjapan@If you think Japan's food safety can be safeguarded by a few dozen overworked food inspectors at the nation's ports of entry, you may be in for a nasty surprise."

I never said anything was perfect, but they are very good at finding flaws in imported American beef coming in, if I'm not mistaken. My point was Japan needs to look inwards as hard is it does outwards. It'll never be perfect, but this whole panic over nothing smacks of simply trying to push domestic product.

KariHaruka: "So the Fukushima farmers poisoned those gyoza a few years back that poisoned japanese children in anticipation for the earthquake/tsunami last year?"

Where did I say that? It's you saying that. What I'm subtly pointing out, but which I'll dummy down for you, is that a number of Fukushima farmers have peddled their 'self-examined' products as safe, only to have radiation levels of certain products found throughout Japan to be exceeding the limits, and to see mislabeling, etc. Try to deflect all you want, the fact is this nation is more likely poisoning people through its food than China is about to resort to 'FOOD TERRORISM' (I make it all caps for doomsday effect!).

"The poisoning of gyoza was FACT! A similar incident occurred in China a few months afterwards and someone was eventually arrested."

Yup. And the Japanese woman who dumped poison in the curry and killed a bunch of people here is but one fact of many similar facts as well. What you fail to realize with your 'FACT', is that the man also poisoned people in China -- he was a worker disgruntled with his pay, not Japan -- he didn't personally ship them off and I highly doubt he knew where his poison was going. It's Japan that made all the hype about the target, as you are here.

Study a little.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Nor is there any pride in "made in Japan" anymore. Did you know a town in Oita, after the war, became a boom town because its name is 'Usa'? They cleverly labelled all their products as 'Made in USA'.

Decades ago a family friend in the export business showed us a "made in USA" Japanese bowl. He said exactly the same thing about the town named Usa!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

gaijintravellerOct. 07, 2012 - 08:44AM JST And I wouldn't be surprised if some Japanese ultra-rightists poison Chinese food just as they they have poisoned >Japan-China relations and the minds of many Japanese.

You're worried about a lit match when the house next door is on fire. Ultra-Nationalits in China are an infinetely bigger tyreat to Japan, the world and even the Chinese government itself. The ones in Japan are only capable of abboying people in thewir black trucks and megaphones. China, or specifically, the combination of Chinese diplomatic skill that borders on the autostic and the result of decades of mandatory "Patriotic Education" that taught young genrations to hate Japan is what has poisoned 40 years of Sino-Japanese relations.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Poisoning of food or water is similar to "weapons of mass destruction" and is within the "terrorism" definition. "Indiscriminate" killing is bad enough. Such methods in the name of what?

In our current and past history it already exist in the form of the use of "drugs".

As this article is from Kuchikomi, it is needs more research and clarification. However, given the situation and circumstances surrounding the open and apparent promoted Chinese violence against Japan, "caution" is obviously needed. Economic and Military threat are only what is obvious on the surface. There are many more subversive methods that the Chinese people are "known" to use such as internet based terrorism. Since Japan is one of the most automated and computer reliant nation, it is much more open to such attacks.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Article like this without stating its source of accusations or suggestions is out of character of Japan Today and the author. In this particularly sensitive time period of Japan-China relationship, responsible reporting should be the responsibility of worthy newspapers lest they become tools of manipulating parties.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

SerranoOct. 07, 2012 - 08:51PM JST

I'm not dependent on China for hardly any of the vegetables I eat in Japan. I know this because I eat most meals at home, and the veggies I buy are almost all grown in Japan ( mostly Kanto ), I buy broccoli from the U.S.

People from Fukushima prefer to eat imported vegetables instead of local produce. If the fruits or Vegetables have nuclear radiation, the like hood of getting Cancer is many times higher. It is far worse than food poisoning.

Not all vegetables and live stocks from US are risk free too. Many years ago, US beef have been banned in many nations for concern of Mad Cow decease. Farming, Handling and processing can make a problem too.

Japan has limited fertile land for farming. Feeding more than 100 millions people can not be possible without imported food.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Oh crap. First I stopped eating local veggies as they tend to come from north of Chiba...didn't want to glow in the dark from the Cesium. Now I find that some of the frozen stuff I buy at COSTCO is from China. I should just start growing my own!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Korea right, since besides your words we don't really know where you actually live.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As someone who tries to source food that comes from south/west of Kanagawa, if Japanese, and imported if possible, I share Mike's feelings. It's like Russian roulette, isn't it?

I agree with others that this truly fits the Japanese phrase irresponsible baseless rumours which has been bandied about so much recently . If they have a basis for this being true, they should state clearly. It's just fanning the flames of mutual mistrust and paranoia.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

SamuraiBlue: "Korea right, since besides your words we don't really know where you actually live."

Besides you're being completely off-topic and attempting to be insulting, your comments are entirely irrelevant. I live in Japan, and even if I didn't, what does it matter, and how does it change the fact that I'm right in saying the costs are higher here than elsewhere? If rice doesn't cost so much, why the excluding rice from the TPP before Japan considers joining?

Go to the supermarket and check the new rice costs and tell me it's not higher than last year. If this whole 'food terrorism' joke is pumped into the mainstream media enough Japanese will panic as usual and insist on only domestic products, which means also buying stuff they would not have before from the north of Japan -- something the area wants and needs.

Hopefully your next comment actually addresses the topic at hand and not talks about Korea for some reason.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"I agree with others that this truly fits the Japanese phrase irresponsible baseless rumours which has been bandied about so much recently . If they have a basis for this being true, they should state clearly. It's just fanning the flames of mutual mistrust and paranoia."

If they started reporting facts instead of making them up, there would be no Japanese TV.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Gee what a shocker, PRC trying to poison Japanese citizens.

When will the DPJ get off it's duff and protect the people from these thugs and their agents.

Everything that happens in the PRC is controlled by the PRC, poisonings and all.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Actually, when you think about it, Japan has posed a higher threat of 'food terrorism' than China. Don't you remember the constant pleas by Kan and Co. to foreign nations to 'please understand' and not ban products from the nation or Fukushima area? That they were going to have ambassadors from other nations ingest food from around the nuclear plant to 'prove it's safe'? They allow companies to ship irradiated debris, food, and even tea without proper inspection, only to find high levels of radiation in buildings and foodstuffs sold around the nation and ask for 'understanding' but then blow up imaginary tales of terrorism from China out of proportion and cite one incident from four years ago that was not specifically targeting Japan at all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

SamuraiBlue: I meant to add that farmers in my area, and I'm not north of Kanto at all, have completely sold out, and said not only do they not have any left for themselves (to be fair, some saved some rice for themselves) where they usually do, but that they could sell it at higher prices and that all of this was due to people wanting to avoid rice from the north.

Anyway, go buy the one bulb of garlic grown in Japan for 300 yen instead of the several shipped from China for 100 yen or so because you're scared; doesn't bother me one bit so long as the options still exist.

Moderator: You're on the wrong thread. Fukushima is not relevant to this discussion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

JoeBigs: "Gee what a shocker, PRC trying to poison Japanese citizens."

Proof? There has been no recorded incident of China trying to poison Japan -- even the gyoza incident so many here are fond of mentioning as 'proof' was not directly aimed at Japan but was the cause of a worker disgruntled about pay, who incidentally also poisoned Chinese at the same time.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

whatever else i do not know , but with food terrorism , terrorism of fruit , crops , live animal for meet , water , land , toy for kids , and lot others more china is best . my country vietnam is heavily affected by the contaminating china , but we are weaker , smaller so we can not do any thing to china . however if you wish to learn how bad china is to its neighbors people you could go to vietnam and experience what poisonous minded china is from vietnamese there

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Nhan: Does China make cheap products that are sometimes unsafe? Yes! Do they send out food that is sometimes full of chemicals that could be harmful? Yes! But that's not terrorism unless they intend to hurt the people and country in question.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

"Patriotic Education" that taught young genrations to hate Japan is what has poisoned 40 years of Sino-Japanese relations.

1930s 'patriotic education' that taught the superiority of Japan over inferior Korea and China is the root of bad blood that won't go away unless nationalistic Japanese acknowledge their wartime agressions.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

smithinjapanOct. 08, 2012 - 02:37PM JST Proof? There has been no recorded incident of China trying to poison Japan -- even the gyoza incident so many here are fond of mentioning as 'proof' was not directly aimed at Japan but was the cause of a worker disgruntled about pay, who incidentally also poisoned Chinese at the same time.

Let's see how safe is their food without terrorists poisoning the people of Japan?

Well let's see.....

Tofu made with sewer water, Contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein, Tainted Chinese dumplings, Contaminated powdered ginger, Contaminated egg products, Goat urine duck meat, Formaldehyde blood pudding, etc etc etc etc.

When I go shopping I make sure that the food I buy is in no way a product of the PRC.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

smithinjapanOct. 08, 2012 - 02:37PM JST Proof? There has been no recorded incident of China trying to poison Japan -- even the gyoza incident so many >here are fond of mentioning as 'proof' was not directly aimed at Japan but was the cause of a worker disgruntled >about pay, who incidentally also poisoned Chinese at the same time.

I guess it take a degree of comprehension skill to read the article and recognize that because of past incidents, which incodentally aren't limited to Japan, and the current Japan Hate Festy going on in China, that poisoning of food/food products is a real possibility and needs to be considered as possible threat. If you want proof that the sentiment that could motivate such actions exists, well I presume you;ve been keeping up with the news.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

akkk1Oct. 08, 2012 - 05:26PM JST "Patriotic Education" that taught young genrations to hate Japan is what has poisoned 40 years of Sino-Japanese relations. 1930s 'patriotic education' that taught the superiority of Japan over inferior Korea and China is the root of bad blood >that won't go away unless nationalistic Japanese acknowledge their wartime agressions.

A couple f news flashes;

It ain't the 1930s, it;s the 21st cemtury Those who lead Imperial Japan that path have been purged, charged and convicted Japan has been a peaceful country for 67 years So if you recognize that "Patriotic Education" is wrong, what do you suggerst about stopping it in China TODAY?
5 ( +7 / -2 )

smithinjapanOct. 08, 2012 - 01:44PM JST f they started reporting facts instead of making them up, there would be no Japanese TV.

Yea Chinese state run media is so much better.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

JoeBigsOct. 08, 2012 - 06:31PM JST

When I go shopping I make sure that the food I buy is in no way a product of the PRC.

How can you make sure that the produce is not 100% of PRC. Fruits and Vegetables are not products. They are produce. They have no passport and identity like Human. Grocery from world wide CAN BE MIXED easily whether intentionally or not.

Whether we have food from PRC or not having at all, we all have to go to heaven or hell on one day. Life is too short for concerning about extreme hatred propaganda promoted risks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A few years back in a Chinese restaurant in Odaiba the Chinese cooks started to argue then to fist fight in front of us customers!! They were Breaking glasses and throwing them breaking them in the kitchen which is located in the center of this restaurant !! Terrorism??? Anyway last time I ever ate there!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ZenpunOct. 08, 2012 - 07:48PM JST JoeBigsOct. 08, 2012 - 06:31PM JST How can you make sure that the produce is not 100% of PRC. Fruits and Vegetables are not products. They are produce. They have no passport and identity like Human. Grocery from world wide CAN BE MIXED easily whether intentionally or not.

I read the lables and make darned sure to ask, may not 100%, but I am very close.

ZenpunOct. 08, 2012 - 07:48PM JST Whether we have food from PRC or not having at all, we all have to go to heaven or hell on one day. Life is too short for concerning about extreme hatred propaganda promoted risks.

Being a person that does not believe in gods or fairies (translation, I'm an Atheist) I believe that we only live once and if we do not watch what we eat that life will end sooner than later.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“We’ve also received data concerning this via the CIA,” says the aforementioned security source.

With all the hate the Chinese have been spewing as well online as everywhere else, knowing that even before those territorial issues escalated, Chinese products were already a major safety concern, wouldn't you err on the safe side? The previous cases showed that even the Chinese government had little control over the quality of what their companies sent out to the world. How difficult is it to imagine that someone will come up with a 'oops, my hand slipped...'. Besides if someone had read their CIA reports before 9/11 things might have gone differently...Just saying.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Seems I didn't have any problems with the food in Hong Kong. Even the people in Hong Kong look down on the Chinese mainland citizens for lack of decent sanitary food practices. I guess I'm not going to be eating any food there should I visit.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I don't have a favorable opinion of the quality of Chinese products to begin with, so this is no surprise. But how do you avoid it? It's almost impossible to avoid Chinese products.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

JoeBigsOct. 08, 2012 - 10:09PM JST

I read the lables and make darned sure to ask, may not 100%, but I am very close.

Some fruits and Vegies were grown with seeds imported from PRC. Although the grown one is not from PRC. It is obvious that you are not close enough to decide whether the grocery has originaility from PRC or not. Not all furits and Vegies can be grown without PRC fertilizer or nurishment too.

Being a person that does not believe in gods or fairies (translation, I'm an Atheist) I believe that we only live once and if we do not watch what we eat that life will end sooner than later.

I am also Atheist. I also dislike Communist PRC government. I dislike PRC tourists and students behaviour and uncivilized manner. However the fruits and Vegetables from PRC are innocent. They are not guilty about any wrong doing of human from PRC. Without comsumption, they will be waste. Boycotting 100% PRC produce means, we have to grown our own in bedroom or backyard. Boycotting 100% PRC products means, we have to stripped naked and givie up using smart phone, PC and TV etc.

People die everyday with malnutrition or over eating or food poisoning. Someone who got food poisoning once or twice does not mean he or she will get that problem everyday. Blaming everything from PRC means blaming parents for making us becoming Human.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

i try to avoid chinese produce anyway. their vegetables are so loaded with pesticides that even in china the people soak them in water before preparing for consumption.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

ZenpunOct. 09, 2012 - 08:27AM JST

However the fruits and Vegetables from PRC are innocent. They are not guilty about any wrong doing of human from PRC

That's like saying that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Well, it is true, but all it takes is one nutjob to simply not clean off the illegal cancer causing pesticides and you have hundreds injured. There's issues with QC without having to worry about without inspectors simply ignoring their jobs because the end market is Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Ossan

"Japan has been a peaceful country for 67 years So if you recognize that "Patriotic Education" is wrong, what do you suggest about stopping it in China TODAY?"

First sensible words I've seen here for a while.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

basroilOct. 09, 2012 - 01:59PM JST

That's like saying that guns don't kill people, people kill people. Well, it is true, but all it takes is one nutjob to simply not clean off the illegal cancer causing pesticides and you have hundreds injured. There's issues with QC without having to worry about without inspectors simply ignoring their jobs because the end market is Japan.

It is true. Guns do not kill people. The regulation of rights to carry Guns kill people. Grocery will not kill people unless they were extermely contaminated or infected by terriible bacteria or chemical source. Food poisoning does not mean only someone intentionally infected food with chemical products but also consuming two chemicially incompetible food can cause unwanted negative reaction of human body.

Everyday people will get cancer whether it was caused by nuclear contaminated food or tanned food or pesticides. Just generalizing one or two isolated incident will not change everything. Everyday tourists flooding into PRC have to consume the vegies and fruits of PRC whether it is not up to their standard or not. If that many tourists or diplomats visited PRC got cancer, they will not dare to travel there again. Blaming everything from PRC can not solve the problems of Hazoudous analysis and critical control point for food safety. In some cases, it was caused at the loation of destination and not the source of supply.

As a sensible and matured person, I will not take rumors seriously. Beside that life is too short for consuming too much time for choosing the right source of grocery.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The most sensible excerpted comment I have read here is "life is too short". Yes! Lets have a contaminated gyoza plus some sho-chu or jamesons and have a collective hug... you dont need the UN guys, just do some shots and forget our differences, ok? Just a suggestion from this scots irish american barstool occupant, folks.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Repeating these kinds of stories, when does one cross the line from detached reporter to actual spreader of these scare stories?

JT should consider their reputation more carefully.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My my here we go again! How to protect your family in Japan? DON'T BUY MADE IN CHINA! simple avoid frozen veggies and check the labels.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The BIG Loser in all of this is : CHINA.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The fact is food safety is also a top concern of billions who live on the other side of the East China Sea, they are terrified but they wouldn't call it "food terrorism", that kind of label is very American and not helpful, they will however, grow vegetables in their villas' gardens, buy imported milk powder to feed their Chinese or Chinese-Japanese babies...if you can't afford it, then risk your stomach to the Chinese udon, don't risk China-Japan relation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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