Maggot outbreak in oranges hushed up

October 31, 2008

AUTHORITIES in southwestern China failed for more than a month to raise an alarm over an epidemic of maggots in mandarin oranges, state media reported today.

The problem came to national attention in recent days via text messages warning of the affected fruits, but authorities in Sichuan province knew as early as September 23, the Beijing News said.

The report said authorities in the city of Guangyuan were told of the problem two days after it was first discovered in tens of thousands of trees in the area.

However, it was not publicly announced until last week, it added.

"Word of the problem affected sales of mandarin oranges nationwide, but Sichuan's provincial agriculture authorities did not hold a news conference on the subject for a full month afterward,'' it said.

The report said local Sichuan authorities took some measures to control the problem, but numerous Chinese media reports have said the affected fruits continued to be sold across the country for weeks afterward.

State-run CCTV led off its midday news program today with a brief item pronouncing the mandarin oranges sold in some other provinces were safe to eat, but did not mention those in Sichuan.

The alleged cover-up follows reports that the large-scale contamination of milk with an industrial chemical was concealed for months even as reports of children falling ill mounted.

At least four babies died of kidney failure and 53,000 children fell sick after drinking contaminated milk products, according to official statistics.