Japan: Dumplings 'probably poisoned deliberately'

Pesticide-laced Chinese dumplings that made at least 10 people sick in Japan and triggered a nationwide scare were probably poisoned deliberately, Japan’s health minister said today.

The frozen dumplings, produced by China’s Tianyang Food Processing Ltd, were contaminated with the pesticide methamidophos and blamed for a string of poisonings in December and January.

Investigators, however, have found traces of the pesticide on the outside of the dumplings, rather than on the filling.

The poison was also found in much higher concentrations than would be expected from residue from pesticides sprayed on vegetables.

Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said that pointed to deliberate poisoning, rather than accidental contamination.