Fears grow over food safety after 5,600 firms fail tests.

(From South China Morning Post)

Byline: Chan Siu-sin and Mary Ann Benitez

Fears over food safety on the mainland grew last night as the central government ordered the suspension or close monitoring of food exports by more than 5,600 companies after they failed hygiene and quality-control tests as part of a major investigation.

The results of the probe, in which 11,000 food exporters were targeted by the state Certification Accreditation Administration, were reported on the CCTV website yesterday.

Of the 11,000 enterprises involved, only 53 per cent passed the tests. Of those which failed, 2,600, or 24 per cent, have had their food export …