China finds cancer-causing mildew in cooking oil

Chinese authorities have found cooking oil tainted with a mildew that can cause cancer. The food safety regulator in the southern province of Guangdong said the discovery was made during its latest overhaul on food safety.

The carcinogenic mildew known in science as aflatoxin was found in excessive amounts in cooking oil products, mostly peanut cooking oil, made by 20 small companies, the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision said in a statement, according to Xinhua. The food safety regulator blamed lax screening over production materials for the incident. and added that the affected products were sold in bulk to nearby residents, indicating western countries and other nations who trade with China are safe from the carcinogenic mildew. It has subsequently revoked the firms' production licences and ordered them to recall the carcinogenic mildew-tainted products. China Daily reports that the incident has raised public concerns over the safety of dairy products after aflatoxin was found in milk products from dairy giant Mengniu Dairy Group late last year.