Beijing: China has halted the import of raw
oysters from the US state of Washington after reports of an
illness outbreak.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China said it has also
recalled raw oysters already accessed by Chinese companies.
The US Food and Drug Administration had earlier this week
warned consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from the
Hood Canal area of Washington following an outbreak of illness
in the state caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.
China has conducted tests for the bacteria in raw oysters
imported from other US states as well as seafood imported from
other countries, the AQSIQ said in a statement.
There have not been any reports of illness caused by
eating raw oysters imported from Washington yet in China,
according to the AQSIQ, which noted that most raw oysters in
the Chinese market are produced domestically.
The administration advised consumers to cook seafood
thoroughly before eating.
On the listeria outbreak involving tainted cantaloupes in
the US, the AQSIQ said China has not imported US cantaloupes.
China has asked all airlines operating flights between
this country and the US to stop serving raw or cold foods,
like cantaloupes, on planes flying here from America, AQSIQ
was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
PTI
