Murder through Dumplings

(Japan(56)
      
日本語/Japanese
Thu 2008/01/31 07:45
Japan Probe reports (video included) how Dumplings manufactured in China (by a Japanese company) have caused 10 people to be hospitalized and one girl of 5 to be left unconscious in a critical condition.
The dumplings contained *insecticide*.

The police are suspecting a (mass) murder attempt and a report this morning on Asahi writes how police are investigating a possibility of the dumplings being injected with insecticide meaning that this could have nothing to do with food safety standards on the Chinese side.

The dumplings are called Gyoza [餃子] and are served along Ramen noodles but is also a common dish. If you are in Japan now then I would suggest staying away from Gyoza for a while.
Posted on Thu 2008/01/31 07:45 by
Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on Mon 2006/12/11 11:06)
Director/代表取締役
Kyle in Seattle, Washington (Registered on 2007/10/08 05:20)
Student
Ummm... Is it safe to say that we shouldn't eat anything that comes out of China? =D
(ID #25186) Posted on 2008/01/31 22:50
Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06)
Director/代表取締役
Probably not - a lot of good food comes from China ;-)
(ID #25196) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:07
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
@Kyle: Then you fall into the trap of generalizing things. Not everything is all white or all black you know.
(ID #25346) Posted on 2008/02/01 09:09
Asahi in Australia (Registered on 2007/10/04 19:01)
First of all, danny mentioned it was manufactured by a "Japanese company", secondly 90% of the people in China make home made dumplings, the instant dumplings in the supermarket are sold to lazy people, people who don't have much time to cook and so on. making home made once are as easy as meat in pie... highly doubt that you'd be dying from those unless your dumb enough to deep it in bleach instead of vinegar =_="
(ID #26110) Posted on 2008/02/04 04:38
Gladwort the Mighty! in SouthEast United States (Registered on 2007/08/10 07:23)
Professional Computer Nerd
More undeserved bad press for China. I hope the media is clear about the cause this time. Not that China doesn't deserve bad press sometimes, but it's mostly about politics or bootlegging. Not manufacturing.
(ID #25188) Posted on 2008/01/31 22:52
Ben-Ohki in Ottawa - Canada (Registered on 2007/12/03 11:30)
Programmer
well, let's call it what it is. China's regulations and safety enforcement simply isn't up to par.
(ID #25192) Posted on 2008/01/31 22:59
Danny Choo in Tokyo (Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06)
Director/代表取締役
As the news reports - could be sabotage on the Japan end.
(ID #25195) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:06
qingy in front of the monitor (Registered on 2007/10/06 05:09)
Gunpla Enthusiast
most likely both countries are at fault.
(ID #25198) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:12
daijin-kun in Between Asleep and Awake (Registered on 2008/01/21 22:28)
PROUD OWNER OF A CANDY GIRL!!!
I second that, gingy... 
It could be that both ends were responsible and are lacking quality control and/or security measures
(ID #25281) Posted on 2008/02/01 03:55
Ido in Laval, Canada (Registered on 2007/11/07 12:54)
student
Yeah just like that incident with toys containing lead in the paint(that being poisonnous) manufactured in China but the fault was US's.
(ID #25508) Posted on 2008/02/01 23:21
rinshu in Decatur, GA (Registered on 2008/01/19 09:27)
Engineer
Thats scary stuff no matter what party is responsible.  Heres hoping all those ill make a quick recovery.
(ID #25199) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:15
Koji98 in Arlington, Texas (Registered on 2007/11/04 12:31)
Your local Otaku Cashier.
I think it could be either sides fault (or maybe both?). Maybe it's China screwing up somewhere on the production line, or someone in Japan sabotaging them for laughs or for a more serious reason.
(ID #25204) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:34
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
How could China be screwing up here? By mixing cans of spray? I wouldn't believe it.
(ID #25253) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:28
Koji98 in Arlington, Texas (Registered on 2007/11/04 12:31)
Your local Otaku Cashier.
It's just one possibility. I guess we won't know what really happened until time tells us.
(ID #25263) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:49
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Yes, let's wait and see now.
(ID #25347) Posted on 2008/02/01 09:09
Henry in /usr/bin/ (Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17)
anime/cosplay events organizer
in b4 pointing whose fault it is

this needs further investigation from both parties (Japan and China) and find the cause of this.

we know that China has upped their standards and been strict with their quality checks on their exports ever since the toy and food incident last year
(ID #25207) Posted on 2008/01/31 23:39
radical anime fan in Singapore; starting to freeze up. Mmm, end-of-year weather. (Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20)
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
Not to mention the 2008 Olympics. They really have been putting an effort into fixing things up since they were selected as host country, and they certainly can't afford to get bad press at this point of time now. Let's wait and see.
(ID #25395) Posted on 2008/02/01 12:11
windbell in Singapore/シンガポール, Tokyo/東京 (Registered on 2006/12/25 12:20)
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Glasseyelashes in Oklahoma (Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55)
Photography
The one thing that bothers me about that article is where it said the dumplings were injected with insecticide far exceeding the limit. My question is, why is there a limit for the level of insecticide injected into the dumplings?    I'd like my gyoza insecticide free, thank you. 
(ID #25302) Posted on 2008/02/01 06:13
Akiba-Kid in California, USA (Registered on 2008/01/17 11:35)
Online Shop
Glad this didn't happen while I was in Japan.  For my last dinner, me and my friends went to some gyoza restaurant and ate lots of gyozas.  I think that restauranet made their own gyozas but just to be safe -_-
(ID #25220) Posted on 2008/02/01 00:27
XSportSeeker in Brazil (Registered on 2007/08/22 05:30)
Hikikomori
Ouch. And I love Gyoza... ate some las weekend while I was on an Anime festival.

Dunno about how things goes in Japan, but here in Brazil, imported food from China is usually = cheaper and worse versions of japanese imported stuff.

I'm talking about snacks, ramen, candies, sauces and other stuff.

I also stopped eating chinese stuff when I heard about that shoyu made from human hair thing.
(ID #25226) Posted on 2008/02/01 00:41
don in Minnesota USA (Registered on 2007/10/23 00:10)
Engineering Student
Dunno, but most Japanese imported food seems to be more expensive.  I really like Japanese snacks too.  I heard my aunt living in Taiwan say that they prefer Japanese snacks over those made in Taiwan.  Lax food standards in China upset me though cause I love food.
(ID #25252) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:26
Setsuna-san in Selangor, Malaysia (Registered on 2007/07/06 10:07)
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
my guess is that it is the work of a disgruntled employee who wants to send his/her mesage of defiance to the world.
(ID #25233) Posted on 2008/02/01 00:59
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Same here.
If it was about really harmful bacteria such as E.coli...
But this is about "insecticide"... How can you ever find that normally? 
Having a massive group of flies near the production site of those dumplings? Hugely improbable.
(ID #25251) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:25
daijin-kun in Between Asleep and Awake (Registered on 2008/01/21 22:28)
PROUD OWNER OF A CANDY GIRL!!!
That could be a possibility too, Setsuna-san. 
(ID #25282) Posted on 2008/02/01 03:58
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive (Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16)
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
The employee may also want to besmirch China's reputation.
(ID #25308) Posted on 2008/02/01 06:58
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro (Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57)
Afro-ed Student
E.coli.. I think I've heard about that from Moyashimon ^^; How uneducated I am..
(ID #25326) Posted on 2008/02/01 07:53
Chong Mizunaga in an Afro (Registered on 2007/12/15 09:57)
Afro-ed Student
E.coli.. I think I heard about that from Moyashimon ^^; How uneducated I am...
(ID #25327) Posted on 2008/02/01 07:55
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Chong Mizunaga, to put it simply, E. Coli = Much harmful bacteria implied in food poisoning because of non-observation of safe food procedures. It attacks the bowel and causes you to have intestinal troubles (in you visiting the porcelain god more often or to throw up, etc.).
Not a pretty sight to behold and surely something you wish never to experience because it weakens you to a certain point. Etc., etc.
*Class dismissed*
(ID #25350) Posted on 2008/02/01 09:17
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive (Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16)
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
@D blade

Aha, I might be invaded by this harmful bacteria right now! 

I excreted feces with excessive amount of liquid and at a much more frequent rate, and it's been like this for a week or so, well, it did get better in the middle of the week but it got worse again after that. 
(ID #25427) Posted on 2008/02/01 15:12
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Thanks Benjamin for such detailed info.
(I shouldn't have read that while having lunch).
Anyway, there could be various reasons to your current situation:
Too much fiber in your diet or you got gastro-enteritis (caused by a virus)...
Trust me, if you had Escherichia Coli, you'd be having a flu and many horrible symptoms and panic would have spread out like wildfire.
Don't forget to wash your hands often with soap, thoroughly and for about one minute! Especially if you want to cook or eat. You don't want to contaminate others, do you?
For more info, trust Wikipedia, the Holy Sage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli
Now if you will excuse me, I will try to resume my lunch before I truly lose my appetite and think of horrible images. 
(ID #25442) Posted on 2008/02/01 15:57
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Oh, and most probably you did eat/drink something that wasn't that fresh or contaminated.
Seafood can be risky sometimes. ^^;
(ID #25452) Posted on 2008/02/01 16:46
Benjamin Takeyo in Lieu de la batille decisive (Registered on 2007/12/04 23:16)
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
@D blade 

Thanks for the advice ^^

I think I might have had too much fibre in my diet, as I have been eating too much rambutans lately. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambutan#Production

I believe this fruit is fibrous to a certain extent ^^

While I did eat prawns recently, but other family members also ate the prawns and they didn't get ill like I am, so I don't think it's because I ate something not fresh/contaminated. ^^
(ID #25462) Posted on 2008/02/01 17:08
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Aha! Rambutans! Maybe that's why.
Or if you talk about prawns, maybe your immune system was weaker back then (stress?)... Hmm. Can't really tell.
*Removes surgery mask and gloves*
(ID #25501) Posted on 2008/02/01 22:27
Sylon Beta (Registered on 2007/10/06 21:21)
Student
China really does get bad press regarding food, which is a pity because it does have some good food, such as their dim sum (Chinese Dumplings). 
(ID #25234) Posted on 2008/02/01 01:02
kid nemo company in City of Industry, California (Registered on 2008/01/24 01:51)
CEO / GFX
durn it..

they are making me paranoid of all the foods i love...

(ID #25249) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:17
Asian_Ethics in Toronto, Canada (Registered on 2007/10/20 11:34)
Ninja
man china getting ripped on again... Doubt China is trying to start chemical genocide or anything...
(ID #25256) Posted on 2008/02/01 02:30
The White Testament in Mexico!!!!!!111oneone (Registered on 2007/11/17 10:08)
Student, Writer and Graphic/Web Designer
So it's a sort of illogical evil plot? How strange... and If it's real, how twisted >_
(ID #25271) Posted on 2008/02/01 03:39
R-1 in Vault 13 (Registered on 2007/07/05 20:49)
Chosen One
The best gyoza is always made in the restaurant it's sold in, and I only eat those.The packaged stuff I had was found lacking.
(ID #25285) Posted on 2008/02/01 04:03
Rin in Canada (Registered on 2008/01/04 16:17)
Student Otaku
Hope this stuff passes when I go to Japan. Go thing I live in Canada. Safe here.
(ID #25288) Posted on 2008/02/01 04:14
Dors in Florida (Registered on 2007/09/02 11:25)
Stocker
Funny that China a have very good relation in Canada, very large Chinese population as well, including large amount of import from China.
(ID #25374) Posted on 2008/02/01 10:22
necrophadian in Cocytus (Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13)
Stigmata Martyr
Wow, what a lame attempt at mass murder; I'm sure there are a lot more lethal poisons available to the general public out there than regular insecticide. 
(ID #25295) Posted on 2008/02/01 04:35
Glasseyelashes in Oklahoma (Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55)
Photography
And you would know? Obviously, it effected some that have eaten the gyoza. Instead of making a back-handed compliment, and a bad one at that, you should be thankful it wasn't you.                                

My heart goes out to those that got sick and to the 5 year old little girl who may never wake up again. 
(ID #25304) Posted on 2008/02/01 06:19
necrophadian in Cocytus (Registered on 2007/04/22 12:13)
Stigmata Martyr
antifreeze, bleach, paint thinner, strychnine (which can be found in rat poison, technically not an insecticide), varnish, artificial nail removers, etc. etc.

My heart goes out to Chinas reputation as it will probably be tarnished once again if this news story gets spun around by people.

I'm thankful it wasn't me and I'm thankful I don't eat Chinese food unless its my only option.

Now go cry me a river for that 5 year old girl.
(ID #25329) Posted on 2008/02/01 07:59
Glasseyelashes in Oklahoma (Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55)
Photography
You sir, are an asshat. 


Thank you and goodnight.
(ID #25471) Posted on 2008/02/01 18:04
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Well Eyeglasslashes, necrophadian just doesn't understand the true value of life (that everyone has the right to live) and acknowledge that the victims were innocent.

necrophadian, I had been cold like you at a time and trust me, it does not help. It is not through the eyes of the criminal (if this theory is proven true), that you should see things but rather the victims.
I am not here to lecture you, but I have been trying to open up more to people during a certain number of years... And seeing this has reminded me the worst part of me that I never want to see again.
(ID #25483) Posted on 2008/02/01 19:33
Glasseyelashes in Oklahoma (Registered on 2007/11/01 15:55)
Photography
I like Eyeglasslashes, it's cute. 

Anyway, I've never experienced someone quite like this person. I felt the need to defend those people who were effected by the poisoned gyoza, and this is what I get? Some guy/or girl, who's selfish enough to make things worse. It's like pouring salt over a wound. 

I don't want to go overboard, but some people just need a good ol slap in the face. 
(ID #25496) Posted on 2008/02/01 22:08
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Glasseyelashes, first of all, sorry for scratching your nick. X|
Well, I just think that many people are just not simply haven't learned what empathy means and what it can bring in life and personal growth. It may require quite some work on self, but it truly is worth the trouble. For me it was just about not having the right opportunities, but now I am ready to give my best.
(ID #25500) Posted on 2008/02/01 22:23
lostandfound in a place where you'll never find... (Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10)
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Damn! Insecticide/Pesticide made a girl unconscious?! Didn't know those things were THAT powerful... Whoever did this should just give themselves up to the authorities! It's not fair for those innocent people to get caught in something they're not even aware off...
(ID #25367) Posted on 2008/02/01 10:05
radical anime fan in Singapore; starting to freeze up. Mmm, end-of-year weather. (Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20)
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
It's less of a case of powerful toxins and probably more of a case of the amount of toxin... anyway I hope all those sick people get well soon. China's reputation is really getting hammered by news like these, whose fault it was notwithstanding; the general population of humanity is a very biased place.  
(ID #25396) Posted on 2008/02/01 12:16
Dors in Florida (Registered on 2007/09/02 11:25)
Stocker
BBC also carried the news

I would think that since it is an import from China, the incident should be more widespread then the two specific families involved. I believe that this is an attempt to tarnish further the credibility of the Chinese-made products, although using life of course is unjustified. And another note, if it is a crime to murder, it is much easier if the scapegoat is China, jumping on the bandwagon.

It would also make sense if they tested the dumplings that are already in Japan that has been taken off of the shelves due to the scare, and compare them to the results from China.

Lets just wish that people have their reasons with them in testing times.
(ID #25370) Posted on 2008/02/01 10:11
GundamJehutyKai in Foundation II Stellvia (Registered on 2007/09/12 21:33)
Service desk support
At the moment, Chinas reputation for quality products was pretty damn low even before the gyoza incident.

Remember how lots of toys had to be recalled just before christmas due to toxic paints? And how more toys are being recalled now due to lead in metalic parts??

Granted, that's in a completely different industry, but people tend to generalise quite dramatically in these sorts of cases.
"Made in China" is quickly becoming a byword for "risky produce." it's far easier to pin the blame on china right now since they've already admitted to having issues with product safety.
(ID #25389) Posted on 2008/02/01 12:01
Dors in Florida (Registered on 2007/09/02 11:25)
Stocker
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7006599.stm

Martel apologizing for its design faults in toys.

"Fear is the mind-killer", I guess it doesn't work for just individuals but collective consciousness and society as well.
(ID #25405) Posted on 2008/02/01 13:00
D_Blade in Montreal (Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48)
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
I have read in one article (found at Google News) that despite hearing about those events (For sure certain factories are at fault and there should have been more control in terms of choosing and using primary materials in the toys, etc.), people in the US hadn't chosen to go for a anti-China boycott.
Somehow I feel that Mattel should have inspected the products in situ or at least before they were sold in shops (sampling, etc.) and could have avoided this massive mayhem by choosing their manufacturers better in the first place.
(ID #25484) Posted on 2008/02/01 19:42
lin-da-kenobi in Long Beach (Registered on 2007/08/16 02:56)
college student
that sucks!! poor kid :(
(ID #25464) Posted on 2008/02/01 17:13
O.i.D in Spain (Registered on 2007/09/16 11:02)
Computer repairs
But I love Gyoza D:
(ID #25503) Posted on 2008/02/01 22:42
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