Beijing, July 10 - China has sent back a shipment of sugar-free drink mix from the United States, after tests in Shanghai showed the presence of too much red dye, the Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.
The shipment was produced by Sturm Foods Ltd., it said, a manufacturer of powdered drinks and cereals based in Manawa, Wisconsin.
China warned last month it would apply greater scrutiny to food shipments from the United States, even as international concern grows over the safety of Chinese food, drug and toy exports.
A chemical additive to pet food caused the deaths or illnesses of pets in the United States, sparking greater attention to Chinese export and quality controls.
Falsely labelled chemicals mixed into cough syrup also caused the deaths of patients in Panama, while U.S. regulators have warned of lead found in toys and chemicals in fish exports from China.