China to help Japan probe dumpling poisoning

BEIJING (Reuters) - Tests in China have found no trace of a pesticide that Japan says caused at least 10 people to fall ill after eating Chinese-made dumplings, the country's top quality watchdog said on Saturday.

China is sending a team of experts to Japan to help investigate the incident, according to a statement from the regulator reported by the official Xinhua news agency.

The scare has prompted Japan's government spokesman to question China's attitude to food safety only weeks after Beijing said it had improved standards by adopting new technology and tightening inspections.

Japanese media reports said the insecticide found in the suspect dumplings is used widely in China, but not in Japan.

However, Xinhua quoted the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as saying tests on 30 samples of frozen dumplings, ingredients and packaging taken at the factory concerned had found no pesticide.

Tian Yang Food Plant in the northern province of Hebei makes dumplings only for the Japanese market.

The 30-year-old company was ordered earlier this week to stop production and exports and recall its products, according to Wang Daning, head of the food import and export safety division at the quality agency.

(Reporting by Alan Wheatley; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)