Dyed Buns

14 April 2011 - Some things never change. Shanghai authorities have seized more than 6,000 steamed buns and the Chinese city's mayor has ordered a probe after they were found to have been dyed, expired or filled with unidentified chemicals. The allegations are the latest in a string of food safety scares to rattle consumers in China, which was rocked three years ago by a tainted milk scandal that left at least six infants dead and sickened 300,000. Mayor Han Zheng said in a statement issued late Tuesday that anyone found guilty of tampering with the popular Chinese snack would be prosecuted and pledged that the investigation results would be released to the public. "Illegal manufacturers should be punished severely according to law," the government-run Shanghai Daily quoted Han as saying. The investigation was prompted after state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) aired a report on Monday detailing the allegations and singling out buns made by Shanghai Shenglu Food Co. Shenglu's "corn buns" appeared to have been dyed yellow and others sold as "black rice buns" had been dyed grey, the reports said. Old buns were also allegedly being recycled as new and chemicals were added in random amounts but not listed on the packaging as required by law, the reports said.