Vinegar contaminated with antifreeze kills Chinese Muslims at Ramadan meal
August 22, 2011 No Comment
Investigators blame vinegar stored in former antifreeze barrels for mass food poisoning outbreak in Xinjiang region Vinegar tainted with antifreeze is suspected of killing 11 people and making a further 120 ill after a communal Ramadan meal in China’s far western region of Xinjiang. Investigators suspect the victims consumed vinegar that was put in two plastic barrels that had previously been used to store toxic antifreeze, the official Xinhua news agency reported. It said the mass food poisoning occurred on Saturday night in a village close to Hotan city in Xinjiang, a region that borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The victims were Muslims who were sharing an evening meal after the daily fast observed during Ramadan. Xinhua said children as young as six were among the dead. One person was in a critical condition. Authorities were still testing to confirm the source of the poisoning, it said. China’s food safety record has been battered by the rampant use of illegal or substandard additives by unscrupulous food producers. Milk powder laced with the industrial chemical melamine killed at least six children and made 300,000 ill in 2008. Producers added the nitrogen-rich melamine powder so their milk would seem higher in protein. Revenge attacks using rat poison or other chemicals are also common in China, where access to firearms and other deadly weapons is tightly controlled. In April, three children died and 35 others became ill after drinking milk tainted with nitrite. An investigation showed that a local dairy farmer had put the poison into a competitor’s milk supply. Accidental contamination is also a problem, caused by poor hygiene, particularly in rural areas, and weak quality control by regulators. China Food safety Ramadan Religion Islam guardian.co.uk
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• Tripoli celebrates after rebels reach Green Square • Obama: ‘Tripoli slipping from the grasp of a tyrant’ • Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam arrested • Defiant Gaddafi urges supporters to defend capital 8.05am: Fighting has broken out near the Rixos hotel in the Tripoli, a doctor told Sky News. Is is likely to be day of wild rumour and conflicting reports, not least about the whereabouts of Muammar Gaddafi. Diplomats told AFP that the Libyan leader is still in his residence in Tripoli. There have also been reports that he has fled. All this is impossible to verify. 7.31am: Welcome to Middle East Live as momentous events unfold in the Libyan capital Tripoli. Here’s a summary of the main developments overnight. You can read more details on Sunday’s extended live blog : • The rebels reached Green Square in the heart of Tripoli and vowed to rename it Martyrs Square, as it was originally known. • There are reports of heavy clashes around Muammar Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli. His forces are believed to be in control of up to 20% of the capital. Gaddafi’s whereabouts are unknown. • The International Criminal Court said it had confirmation that Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, had been arrested. Gaddafi’s eldest son Mohammed is also believed to be under house arrest. • The rebels’ spokesman promised they would guarantee Gaddafi’s safety and said they wanted to see him stand trial in Libya and nowhere else. • President Obama has put out a statement on the situation in Libya in which he says Gaddafi must “acknowledge the reality that he no longer controls Libya. He needs to relinquish power once and for all”. • Gaddafi issued a desperate call to Libyan tribes to come to the capital to defend it , while government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim proposed a ceasefire. Libya Muammar Gaddafi Nato US foreign policy International criminal court Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Syria Bashar Al-Assad Israel Egypt Matthew Weaver guardian.co.uk
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