Shenzhen finds cancer-causing mildew in food

The food safety regulator in the southern city of Shenzhen said Friday it uncovered carcinogenic mildew-tainted peanuts and cooking oil in the latest overhaul on food safety. The carcinogenic mildew, called aflatoxin in scientific terminology, has triggered wide public concern over the safety of dairy products after being found in milk products from dairy giant Mengniu. The Shenzhen market supervision bureau said that it found up to 4.3 times of the permitted level of aflatoxin in peanuts sold in two supermarkets and one frozen food store. The bureau also found up to 4 times of the allowed level of aflatoxin in cooking oil in four restaurants. Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that commonly grows on crops such as grains and peanuts. High levels of the toxin may lead to cancer in animal tests. The mildew recently caught the nation's attention after it was found in high doses in dairy products from Mengniu Dairy Group. An initial investigation showed that the contamination was caused by mildewed feed given to cows in the dairy's plant in Sichuan Province. Mengniu issued Monday a public apology in an online statement but insisted that the problem was discovered before the tainted milk entered the market.