California warns of pesticide-contaminated ginger from China

Tag: China Ginger

The California Department of Public Health is warning American consumers not to eat ginger imported from China because it might contain a dangerous pesticide.

The ginger was distributed to Albertson's and Save Mart stores in Northern California by Christopher Ranch of Gilroy, Public Health Director Mark Horton said in a notice issued Sunday.

Monitors with the state Department of Pesticide Regulation detected the presence of aldicarb sulfoxide, which is not approved for use on ginger in California.

The department said it has received no reports of illness from customers who ate the contaminated ginger.

The warning comes as other Chinese exports_ ranging from toothpaste to tires to seafood — have been recalled or rejected around the world.

Signs of aldicarb poisoning in humans usually appear within the first hour after exposure, producing flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache and blurred vision.

Higher levels of poisoning also can cause dizziness, excessive sweating and salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, and muscle stiffness and twitching, health officials said.