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Nongfu Spring cleared of arsenic charges

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-02 13:39

Nongfu Spring, China's leading producer of bottled water and beverages, was cleared by the national quality watchdog of charges that its products contain high-level of arsenic, the Haikou municipal bureau of industry and commerce said Tuesday.

Products of Nongfu Spring Co and Uni-President Co had been tested qualified by the testing center of the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, said an official with the Haikou bureau.

The national center had retested three kinds of soft drinks from the two companies and confirmed them to be qualified. The same samples were tested to contain arsenic in excess of allowable standards by the test lab of the Hainan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on Nov 23.

The Haikou bureau of industry and commerce issued a caution on Nov 24, warning that the Nongfu Spring's 30 percent mixed vegetable and fruit juice and its C-100 grapefruit juice, as well as a beverages of the Uni-President Co, contained arsenic.

The products were also ordered to be taken off the shelves immediately.

The Nongfu Spring Co and Uni-President Co doubted the results and appealed to the national lab for a retest. The products were sent to the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine on Nov 27.

The Haikou bureau of industry and commerce notified retailers Tuesday that the products should be stopped from being removed from shelves after the final results by the national test center.