High cadmium levels found in Guangzhou rice

Nearly half the rice and rice products on sale in Guangzhou contain too much cadmium, a toxin and carcinogen that can damage the kidneys, a three-month investigation by the city's food safety authorities found.

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Guangzhou food-safety authorities find high levels of cadmium in rice

Published: 12:00am, 18 May 2013Updated: 10:20am, 18 May 2013

Nearly half the rice and rice products on sale in Guangzhou contain too much cadmium, a toxin and carcinogen that can damage the kidneys, a three-month investigation by the city's food safety authorities found.

Inspectors from Guangzhou's Food and Drug Administration checked 18 samples from local markets between January and March, and found eight had cadmium levels higher than specified in national food safety standards, the administration's website said on Thursday.

The inspectors also checked other types of food, including cakes, sausages, cooking oil and shark fin, and found them all significantly safer than rice.

The city government declined to disclose any information about the problematic rice, telling the Southern Daily that it was "inconvenient" to reveal the brands involved. The secrecy triggered a national outcry.

On Sohu.com one of the mainland's biggest internet portals, the Southern Daily report received more than 22,000 comments from almost every province and region, making it one of the most discussed topics yesterday. Most comments criticised the government for protecting the interests of businesses rather than residents. Many alleged that officials had been bribed by manufacturers to keep quiet.

"How can you require us to trust … the government, trust the party, if you can't even give us the most basic health?" an internet user from Shandong wrote.

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