Another fine product made in China

[Jaga]

John,

I just bought a watermelon in Albertson, it is small but too ripe and it does not have any taste. I am not sure whether it was chinese or not, but it is not good.

[Jaga]

Guys, by the way, I think some of the bad press which refers to China is political. It was sad for me to hear when Carly Florina said that Chinese people are not creative. It is a stereotype. Could you imagine if she said something that negative about Americans or Jews? Everybody would be so upset!

[JustJohn or JJ]

In China, Stomachs Turn at News of 40-Year-Old Meat Peddled by Traders

By DAN LEVIN and CRYSTAL TSEJUNE 24, 2015



From rat meat masquerading as lamb to tainted milk to exploding watermelons, Chinese consumers have become inured to stomach-churning food scandals. But on Tuesday, countless people were forced to ponder the benefits of vegetarianism after news reports emerged that unscrupulous meat traders had been peddling tons of beef, pork and chicken wings that in some cases had been frozen for 40 years.

The Chinese news media announced that the authorities had seized nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of smuggled frozen meat this month across China, some of it dating to the 1970s. The caches of beef, pork and chicken wings, worth up to 3 billion renminbi, or $483 million, were discovered in a nationwide crackdown that spanned 14 provinces and regions, the state news agency Xinhua reported.

Typically, the meat was shipped from abroad to Hong Kong and then brought to Vietnam, where traders would smuggle the product across the Chinese border without declaring it to customs officials or going through required inspection and quarantine procedures. From there, criminals would often transport the meat in unrefrigerated trucks to save costs and refreeze it several times before it reached customers.

“It was too smelly. A truck full of it. I almost threw up when the door opened,” Zhang Tao, a customs administration official in Changsha, the capital of central Hunan Province, was quoted as saying by Xinhua. The authorities in Changsha seized 800 tons of frozen meat on June 1 and arrested 20 suspected members of two gangs.

According to the Changsha Administration of Customs, one-third of the meat on sale at the largest wholesale market in the city was found to be illegally imported. While the origin of the smuggled meat was unclear, a report on the official Hunan propaganda department website said that the contraband had come from the border with Vietnam.

In the region of Guangxi, which borders Vietnam, customs officials found that some of the smuggled frozen meat “was more than 40 years old,” according to The China Daily newspaper. Chinese officials did not explain where the meat originated or how it had been stored for almost two generations. After being refrozen, the meat was sold to retailers, supermarkets and restaurants across the country. China Central Television, the state broadcaster, showed workers in the southern city of Shenzhen repackaging the imported meat with Chinese labels, even though imported products, if legal, tend to be more profitable.

Some of the meat was sold on the Internet. Many meat retailers have set up profiles on Taobao, the online shopping website owned by Alibaba, offering local and imported meat. Some claim to be selling beef imported from the United States, even though such beef has been barred from the Chinese mainland since 2003, after outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.

Food scandals are a politically sensitive issue in China, where tainted food has sickened huge numbers of people. In 2008, milk powder tainted with melamine, a toxic industrial compound, made 300,000 babies ill and six died. Since then, the country has encountered watermelons that exploded from the misuse of a growth accelerator chemical, pork soaked in a detergent additive, steamed buns tainted with pesticides, and 15,000 dead pigs drifting down the Huangpu River in Shanghai.

But the news of 40-year-old frozen meat being sold to consumers has left even the most seasoned experts in shock. Bob Delmore, an expert on meat science at Colorado State University, said that although it was possible for meat to last that long frozen, it would be covered by “a tremendous amount of freezer burn” as the product lost moisture and the flesh degraded. But once it began to thaw, a consumer would immediately know something was wrong. “The dead giveaway would be the odor and the taste,” he said.

In China, people turned to social media to complain about the latest scandal, with some considering vegetarianism, or at least a good wine vintage to make the risk go down easier. “A bottle of 1982 Lafite plus a piece of 70s steak and a pair of 80s chicken wings,” wrote one user on the Sina Weibo microblog. “Bon appétit!”

[JustJohn or JJ]

"Fake rice made out of plastic is massively sold on the Chinese market."


China famous for having all, making all, has now been reported to have made rice out of plastic and has distributed it.

[JustJohn or JJ]

And it continues !!!!



Chinese police uncover huge fake jellyfish 'scam'

By Martin Yip BBC Chinese






Police in eastern China have raided two fake jellyfish workshops, saying more than 10 tonnes is thought to have made its way into local food markets.

Police said the fake jellyfish had been made by mixing chemicals, adding that checks showed high levels of aluminium.

The syndicates made more than 170,000 yuan (£18,100; $26,100) in profits in a year of production, they added.

Jellyfish is very popular sliced and served as salad, particularly along China's southern and eastern coasts.

Huzhou municipal police in Zhejiang province, which is leading the investigation said they first found a workshop run by a Mr Yuan, who made and sold the fake jellyfish at a farmer's market.

Mr Yuan then led detectives to a bigger workshop in Changzhou city in neighbouring Jiangsu province run by a Mr Jia who had taught him the "art" of faking jellyfish. He was detained alongside other syndicate members. The arrests were made in late April, but police only made it public late last week
Is fake jellyfish harmful?

Mr Yuan told the investigators he made the jellyfish by mixing three chemicals - alginic acid, ammonium alum and calcium chloride anhydrous - according to an official release (in Chinese) by Huzhou police on social media platform WeChat.

Officers say they found "excessive levels" of aluminium in the fake jellyfish - up to 800mg/kg, which is eight times of China's own legal limit.

The food and drug safety branch of Huzhou police said too much aluminium could result in bone and nerve damage, and potentially harm memory. They warned against pregnant women, children and the elderly consuming the substance.
Why make fake jellyfish?

Although jellyfish can be poisonous they are considered something of a delicacy in China, described as both tasty and a good source of collagen.

Especially popular in the summer, jellyfish skin is sliced and served like a salad with various dressings.

It appears as if the wild jellyfish supply simply cannot cope with the demand. Zhejiang's Metropolitan Express paper has reported on jellyfish farms in the province. It quotes fish farmers saying that half-a-kilo of jellyfish takes 40 days to raise, with the wholesale price at about 30-40 yuan.

This cost is halved with artificial jellyfish and for obvious reasons, the production time is far less.
How do you tell real from fake jellyfish?

The Huzhou police have issued guidance on how to spot the difference.

Artificial jellyfish is tasteless with no smell and is tough to tear and has a texture similar to sellotape.

The real deal? Quite the opposite. It has a fishy smell, and is yellowish and colourful.
This is not the first fake jellyfish bust

In November 2014, Huzhou police, again, caught three individuals selling fake jellyfish made from a similar chemical mixture.

In October 2013, police in central Hunan province broke another jellyfish syndicate.

That group is said to have made 40 tonnes of fake jellyfish, and the ringleader was sentenced to six months in jail.

[JustJohn or JJ]

“Organic” Food From China Found To Be Highly Contaminated

Environment · Health · Most Popular · News


Food imported from China and labelled “organic” is anything but.




With more and more people learning about the importance of eating healthy and safe produce, consumer demand for all things “organic” has skyrocketed. In the US alone, annual organic food sales have grown by 20% and the increased demand is significantly outpacing domestic supplies, forcing many grocers and food vendors to look internationally to keep their businesses stocked. Most of these organic imports are grown in the European Union, where organic standards are weaker than those of the US. However, many of these “organic” products are from China, whose food industry standards for safety and quality are notoriously low. Much of this “organic” produce grown in China is so unsafe, that the farmers who grow it won’t eat it themselves. Isn’t that the whole point of choosing organic in the first place?

It turns out that much of the food labelled “organic” was never grown with the intention of being organic, but rather as a means to circumvent China’s reputation for substandard produce. US Customs personnel often reject entire shipments of food from China due to the addition of dangerous and unsavory additives, the presence of drug residues, mislabeling, or the poor hygienic state of the food. In an effort to get around these bulk rejections of food, some Chinese food exporters have taken to labeling their products “organic,” especially those foods that appear dirty or unusual. In addition, the “organic” label in China has no meaning as collusion between the government and manufacturers has led to rampant mislabeling, and China’s government has no established system for determining what is or is not organic.

Even if “organically grown” food from China was in fact that, the quality of the water used in the production of food intended for export is so contaminated that a person could fall ill just by handling it. Much of China’s industrial-scale agriculture is found along the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, both of which are extremely polluted. This is because thousands upon thousands of Chinese factories also line these same rivers, adding their chemical waste to the same water used to irrigate the country’s food supply. In one such recent case, a chemical fertilizer plant dumped such excessive amounts of ammonia into the Fu river, a tributary of the Yangtze river, that an estimated 110 tons of dead fish had to be removed. However, the ammonia-laden river continued to be used for industrial and agricultural use.

Other chemicals and heavy metals have been found in very high and unsafe amounts in these rivers, as well as, not surprisingly, the food produced with that water. Perchlorate, a precursor to rocket fuel, has been found in China’s sewage as well as its rice, bottled drinking water, and milk. It is throughout the entire water supply and contaminate any would-be organic produce. Perchlorate is an endocrine-disruptor and is also toxic. It can cause improper regulation of the metabolism, thyroid problems, as well as developmental problems in children and infants. Does that sound healthy and organic? Obviously not. Luckily, some of China’s “organic” products are more likely to be contaminated than others. Fish, chicken, apples, rice, mushrooms, green peas, black pepper, and garlic were found to be the most contaminated foods from China and are to be avoided. As always, the only way to be completely sure that your food is free of chemicals and additives is to grow it yourself. Vegetable gardens can fit in even the smallest of spaces, are attractive, help local insects (including bees), and can provide you and your family with delicious food that is completely safe.

[Jaga]

John, I agree, I would rather trust a local market. US food market is pretty good the way it is. I just wish it was based on fresh food more. Trump would have to own to American people, American treaties, healthcare of Americans. He cannot just destroy the healthcare for 20 mln people with a signature. He would have to own the consequences. That might be interesting

[karl]

J.J.

Interesting with Chinese foods that are mislabeled, personally, my self would not eat any thing from China even with my style of cooking. The nice thing about food shopping in Mexico at least in Puebla, is the enormous choices of location and variety. But with this, there are the no no that comes with most food shopping in 3rd world countries.

The worse offender, is water. It if not on the street level, pretty safe in the commercial district if, from the sources that use purified water, or reputable establishment that uses purified water. This includes very highly of iced drinks rather alcoholic or not, it is the ice that is suspect, this includant of most any street side water fountains, the reason is: Montezumas revenge....those that violate those precautions are going to be living next to the tollet.

For my own personal use at the flat, it is the large 2 liter or 4 liter containers easily purchased from Walmart or most any of the Super Markets and shopping centres. What is sold in the states, is available here.

Usually as a personal preference, usually do most food shopping at Walmart or Soriana for meats/vegetables and what ever in one place to save running about in the traffic.

If at the market place or a street vender booth, if it is clean, usually it is safe to eat piping hot food and drink,,coffee/tea and such.

Even with the barrage of medical shots we/I must endure every year, it is not good to rely on those for complete protection from stupidity.

www.guidetopuebla.com/Shopping.html

Karl

[Jaga]

Karl, I like your new nick. You looks very interesting. Trump's victory is seen with quite a scepticism abroad, although Putin justified his victory, that he can speak to people who are usually overlooked.

Here is more about the reaction:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/09/trump-victory-heralded-apocalypse-of-the-mainstream-by-europes-r/


Trump victory hailed 'apocalypse' of the mainstream by Europe's rising populist politicians











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Donald Trump wins: what it means for Europe Donald Trump wins: what it means for Europe Play! 01:17




By Peter Foster, Europe Editor
9 November 2016 • 4:39pm




Donald Trump’s victorywas greeted with glee and jubilation by populist politicians across Europe who hailed his ascent to the White House as yet further proof of their belief that Europe’s old, establishment political order is now crumbling.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front (FN) who polls show will be a leading contender for the French presidency next spring, congratulated the former TV game show host and billionaire property developer for setting Americans “free”.

“Their world is collapsing. Ours is being built,” added up Florian Philippot, the Front National vice-president and chief Le Pen lieutenant, summing up the euphoric mood of anti-establishment parties from all four corners of the continent.









It's Scary What This Site Knows About You - Enter Your Name






Wall Street Poster Boy Makes Shocking Prediction













French far-right leader Marine le Pen makes a statement on the US presidential election

French far-right leader Marine le Pen makes a statement on the US presidential election Credit: AP/Christophe Ena




In the north, Geert Wilders, the Dutch anti-Islam Eurosceptic who is riding high in polls for next year’s parliamentary elections called Mr Trump’s win “A historic victory! A revolution!” promising that “We too will give our country back to the Dutch!”.

Both Mr Wilders and Ms Le Pen have promised to hold Brexit-style referendums on EU membership if they win power.

To the south, in Italy, where a constitutional reform referendum on December 4 will provide the next major test of the durability of Europe’s political mainstream, the leader of the populist Five Star Movement, Beppe Grillo, hailed the Trump victory as the “apocalypse” of the mainstream.

“It's crazy. This is the explosion of an era. It's the apocalypse of the media, TV, the big newspapers, the intellectuals, the journalists,” the bearded former comedian wrote on his blog.

“This is a wide-ranging F*** off.” The apparent election-night bonfire of the US political establishment was also welcomed from east to west, with Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader who is lionised in Europe for engineering Brexit, warning ecstatically of a coming “sea-change”.






Nigel Farage joined Donald Trump on a campaign rally in August

Nigel Farage joined Donald Trump on a campaign rally in August Credit: Gerald Herbert/AP




“It’s good news for all of us in the Western World who believe in nation-state democracy,” he told The Telegraph as he prepared to fly to America to meet up with the Trump campaign, criticising the British establishment for failing, once again, to read the popular political runes.

“It seems to me the only people in Britain who know him are Piers Morgan and myself. I think we are seeing a sea-change in politics and not before time,” he added.

On Europe’s eastern flanks, the same conservative and populist leaders who have clashed with the European Commission and Germany over immigration – but backed Mr Trump’s campaign – also thrilled to the triumph of Trump.

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian authoritarian-minded prime minister who was warned about “backsliding” on democracy in 2012 by Hillary Clinton when she was US secretary of state, was among the first to congratulate Mr Trump, using his official Facebook page.

“What a great news. Democracy is still alive,” wrote Mr Orban who in July stood out as a lone EU leader prepared to praise Mr Trump’s policies on immigration and foreign affairs, calling them “good for Europe and vital for Hungary”.




World leaders on Trump win World leaders on Trump win Play! 02:31






Regional analysts differed in their predictions as to how far Mr Trump’s win would impact the forces of populism that EU leaders concede now pose an existential threat to the European Union.

Mujtaba Rahman, the managing director of the Europe practice at the Eurasia Group, a global political risk consultancy, said that Mr Trump win was a “significant victory” for centrifugal political forces.

“His take on immigration, mercantilist trade policy and lack of apparent sentimentality towards NATO aligns his values along the Orban-Le Pen axis.

This has to erode the Western liberal consensus embodied in the EU and its much-vaunted 'values',” he said.

Looking ahead to the French elections, Daniela Schwarzer, director of research at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), said that European leaders like Ms Le Pen might start to take a leaf out of Mr Trump’s no-shame rhetorical playbook.






Supporters of Marine Le Pen

Supporters of Marine Le Pen Credit: Boris Horvat/AFP




“The broken taboos, the extent of political conflict, the aggression that we've seen from Trump, this can widen the scope of what becomes thinkable in our own political culture,” Ms Schwarzer said.

But other analysts cautioned that even if the populist were to come to power across Europe, the hard business of government – and the difficulty of delivering change to angry and disgruntled voters – put a natural check on their support.

“It is true, everything seems possible these days,” said Agata Gostyńska, EU Institutions research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, a pro-EU think-tank. “But on the other hand, there is some pattern with populists.

They are really sharp at gaining power when on the outside, but when they get into power and are constrained by real politics they tend not be so successful.”

Additional reporting: Steve Swinford, New York and Nick Squires, Rome

[JustJohn or JJ]

Vietnamese shrimp providers inject a Chinese product



CMC injected into Shrimps

[JustJohn or JJ]

Fresh scandal erupts over vaccine safety in China

[Reuters]
By Dominique Patton

,Reuters•July 22, 2018

By Dominique Patton

BEIJING (Reuters) - A scandal over faulty vaccines in China has sparked anger on social media, underscoring the difficulties regulators face in rebuilding trust after years of food and drug safety scares.

The incident is a major blow for Beijing's efforts to push domestically made vaccines and for China's drug regulator, which has been struggling to clean up the world's second-biggest drug industry.

Worried parents trying to ascertain if their children had been administered faulty vaccines led to the topic becoming the second most watched at the weekend on the Weibo social media site, with details widely shared on the WeChat messaging app.

"If the state does not protect its citizens, how can we love our country?" asked one Weibo user, while another lamented, "Looking at the news, I don't dare to have an injection."

The scandal erupted a week ago, after major vaccine maker Changsheng Biotechnology Co was found to have violated standards in making rabies vaccine for humans.

The regulator ordered it to halt production and recall all its vaccines, the company said in a statement.

On Thursday, however, it told the stock exchange that authorities in its base in northeastern Jilin province were fining it over substandard production, uncovered in 2017, of a DPT vaccine to combat diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT).

The defective vaccine might not confer immunity but would not affect human safety, provincial authorities had said in November, implicating another company, Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, in substandard DPT vaccines.

Reuters' calls to Changsheng's headquarters on Sunday went unanswered.

The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement on Sunday evening that its investigation had found that Changsheng fabricates production records and product inspection records, and arbitrarily changes process parameters and equipment, "serious violations" of the law.

It said the agency was investigating the company and suspected crimes would be handled by the public security department, adding that all vaccine producers would be inspected and any violations would be dealt with seriously.

In a stock exchange statement on Sunday, the company said its suspension of rabies vaccine production would have a significant impact on its finances and that some regional disease control agencies had suspended some of its other vaccines.

The latest problems come a little more than two years after police in northern Shandong province said they had uncovered the illegal sale of vaccines worth nearly $90 million.

Last week China's Zhejiang Huaihai Pharmaceutical said it was recalling a heart drug sold in the United States after the European Medicines Agency found that it was tainted with an impurity linked to cancer.

The Changsheng scandal will hit confidence in domestic vaccines by rekindling safety concerns over products for children, a challenge state media highlighted.

"Vaccines directly concern the health of children and are related to life," the state-run Global Times said in a commentary. "Every negative news item in this area will make all of society look at it."

Changsheng's shares fell the maximum limit of 10 percent on Friday, to stand at 14.5 yuan ($2.14). They have lost 40 percent of their value since July 13.

($1=6.7659 Chinese yuan renminbi)


(Reporting by Dominique Patton; Additional reporting by Zhou Jianfeng; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and David Goodman)

[JustJohn or JJ]

20 Foods Imported From China That People Should Avoid At All Costs For Their Own Health

The Unites States does plenty of trading with other countries, but one of the biggest nations we deal with is China. We spend billions of dollars each year importing all sorts of goods, especially food.

While you might think your imported food is thoroughly vetted, that’s not the case. Not everything is unsafe, but these 20 dangerous foods might be lurking in your kitchen right now!

1. Cod: Believe it or not, this common fish is among the absolute worst foods to digest from China. Thousands are cramped in small areas teeming with sewage and garbage, making them highly toxic.

2. Eggs: If you get eggs that were imported from China, you might want to think twice before scrambling them up. Factories there use calcium carbonate and paraffin in their eggs, which can cause serious food poisoning.

3. Lamb: In 2013, police arrested 900 people in China because they were pawning off rat meat as lamb, and that’s disgusting. Officers seized about 20,000 pounds of spoiled rat meat, as well!

4. Wine: If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur, you’ll probably want to avoid wine that was “Made in China”. Sure, you’ll find your standard grapes, but you’ll also consume sugar, dyes, and artificial flavors. Cheers!

5. Tea: Even though China is the biggest purveyor of tea throughout the world, close to 29 toxic chemicals have been found in various brands. Luckily, none of them were exported to other countries, but still…

6. Industrial salt: For years, industrial salt has been sold throughout China as table salt. However, this type of sodium is not meant for human consumption; it can cause hypothyroid problems and reproductive system disorders.

7. Watermelon: Many of the watermelons exported from China are covered in a highly harmful pesticide that causes them to grow at rapid rates. Buy your produce locally to avoid getting sick.

8. Tilapia: Much like the factory-farmed cod, these fish are placed into small overcrowded areas where the water is full of toxic chemicals. The fish breathe in the chemicals, and then end up on your dinner plate.

9. Rice noodles: The Chinese sure love their noodles, but you should probably try to avoid imported rice noodles. Some factories use sulfur dioxide to make their noodles appear fresh. This chemical has been linked to cancer.

10. Pork: Some people prefer beef over pork, but in China, beef is about twice as expensive. So what does a company do to counter the problem? They pump borax-filled additives into their pork to make it look like beef!

11. Garlic: Chinese garlic farms are known to be coated in chemical products before the garlic is picked and shipped to stores. If you ever eat Canadian garlic and then Chinese garlic, you can instantly taste the difference.

12. Mushrooms: When food inspectors examine mushrooms coming in from China, they often find tainted batches. Some companies will even label their product “organic” just to increase sales.

13. Plastic rice: Nearly every meal in China is eaten with rice, so you’d think they would ensure it was safe, right? Nope. It turns out many factories add a cancer-causing synthetic resin to their rice. Gross!

14. Milk: Melanin is a chemical that causes serious damage to kidneys, and it’s been found in imported milk. The problem is so bad that six children have died over recent years and 300,000 have gotten very ill.

15. Apple juice: Amazingly, 50 percent of the apple juice sold in the United States comes out of China. This is scary since the number of pesticides sprayed on the fruit prior to processing is at an all time high. Stick to water, instead!

16. Cabbage: During the super high temperatures of the summer months, Chinese farmers will spray a highly toxic formalin solution onto cabbage to keep them looking fresh. Best not to dabble.

17. Peas: Wasn’t it John Lennon who said, “Give peas a chance”? Well, you don’t want to give canned peas from China a chance. In 2005, food inspectors found artificially colored fake peas in thousands of cans.

18. Black pepper: You might have heard of the “famous” Chinese black pepper, but if you ever get a chance to try it, you might want to pass. Some people are simply selling hardened mud pellets!

19. Oil: A massive food company in China made the disgusting decision to recycle used olive oil from thousands of restaurants, filter it, and then resell it. Oil vey!

20. Chicken: Avian influenza and other food-borne illnesses are prevalent in China, so when it comes to imported chicken, you might want to walk in the other direction. It’s never the right time to get salmonella.

This is a great list to keep in mind the next time you go food shopping. Always check where your groceries are coming from!

Share these dangerous foods list from China with your friends !

[JustJohn or JJ]

Chinese firm fined $1.3bn for illegal production of rabies vaccine

32 minutes ago

A Chinese vaccination firm has been fined $1.3bn (£988m) after it was found to have illegally produced the human rabies vaccine.

Changchun Changsheng had blended different batches of vaccine fluid and used expired fluid to produce some of the batches, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The company also falsified production data for the vaccine.

This is not the first major vaccine scandal to hit China.

Changchun Changsheng's pharmaceutical production licence has also been revoked and its illegally produced vaccines have been confiscated.


Some of the company's executives may also face criminal charges.

"This is the most stringent administrative penalty on record," an official at the China Food and Drug Administration told financial news website Caixin.

"The company must be held responsible for its intentional fraud."

'What kind of society am I living in?'

Earlier in July, it was revealed that Changchun Changsheng had falsified production data for its rabies vaccine.

The company was then ordered to halt production and recall its vaccines.

There was then no evidence of harm from the vaccine, but the scandal sparked a huge outcry in China, and thousands took to social media in anger.


"Thousands of mothers around the country are worried. Over 200,000 children could be affected. "What kind of society am I living in?" asked one person on the micro-blogging platform Weibo.

The incident also led to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ordering a crackdown on the vaccine industry, saying the incident had "crossed a moral line".

This is not the first time substandard vaccines have been produced in China.

In 2016, an illegal vaccine ring which involved hundreds of people was uncovered.

Some $88m worth of vaccines were found to be inadequately refrigerated and were not transported in approved conditions.

[JustJohn or JJ]

Feds seize 1 million lbs. of pork smuggled from China to N.J. port amid African swine fever outbreak

Updated Mar 15, 2019; Posted Mar 15, 2019
By Sophie Nieto-Munoz | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

US Custom and Border Protection agents made the biggest seizure of agricultural product in American history, officials announced Friday.



On the heels of a massive cocaine bust at a New Jersey port, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced another big seizure on Friday of roughly 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China, where there’s an ongoing outbreak of deadly African swine fever.

A nutrition label in English covers the ingredients listed in this noodle packet,

which officials said is a huge red flag when it comes to smuggling.

In some cases, the packaging matched the product on the manifest, but the contents were prohibited pork. In other instances, the pork was simply packaged among other good, authorities said.

“This was highly orchestrated,” said Stephen Maloney, the Customs and Border Patrol’s acting port director for the Port of New York/Newark. “There was a conceited effort to conceal here to bring this product in.”

Agricultural specialists and inspectors are still going through the boxes. Once all 50 shipping containers have been examined, the confiscated products will be incinerated, Miller said.

“I’m quite confident that if is anyone is smuggling illicit items in through Newark, we will continue to identify, seize and destroy the products," Miller said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to investigate the smuggling, and eventually decide what, if any, repercussions China and people involved will face.

The Newark port of entry is one of the busiest in the country, and sees thousands of cargo containers pass through every day. Since the reopening of the Bayonne Bridge, ship traffic has gone up 11 percent.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at [e-mail]. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

[JustJohn or JJ]

www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3080786/coronavirus-us-university-stops-using-chinese