Tainted Chinese products flood U.S. market

WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- Tainted apples and toxic mushrooms were among 107 Chinese food imports detained at U.S. ports last month, it was reported Sunday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration detained the imports, along with more than 1,000 Chinese shipments of tainted dietary supplements, toxic cosmetics and counterfeit medicines, the Washington Post reported.

The FDA found dried apples preserved with a cancer-causing chemical, frozen catfish with banned antibiotics, scallops and sardines coated with putrefying bacteria and mushrooms covered with illegal pesticides, the Post reported.

Federal inspection records show that China, for years, has flooded the United States with products unfit for human consumption and only a fraction of the products are believed to have been detected, the Post reported.

Consumer advocates and members of Congress are to renew their concerns during high-level trade talks with China in Washington this week, the Post said.