Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province, has started tracking coronavirus contaminated frozen shrimp after samples of the packaging of the shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the virus, sparking concern about imported frozen foods disrupting China's well-established anti-epidemic measures as more than 10 provinces in the country have found the virus on imported frozen foods.
The batch of frozen shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia entered China through Tianjin ports, and were transported to the Jiaojiawan frozen food plant located in Lanzhou on November 8, according to the health authority of Lanzhou on Saturday.
Of the 345 packages of shrimp received by the Lanzhou food plant, 82 have been sold to local markets, which have all been isolated. Lanzhou health authorities tracked and quarantined 32 people, including a driver in Sichuan Province's Chengdu city.
According to Lanzhou's health authorities, as of Saturday morning, coronavirus tests on 2,270 people and 680 food and environment samples all produced negative results. Lanzhou authorities said will roll out a citywide inspection on frozen food imported from overseas.
Since it resumed operation, the port has streamlined its cold chain operation attempting to achieve greater efficiency.
Since June more than 10 provinces and cities including Beijing, Liaoning, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Guangdong, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu, have discovered the coronavirus on imported frozen food or food packaging.
To prevent the imported food from infecting people, China's State Council on Monday required all imported cold-chain food to be thoroughly disinfected before going to the market. Related equipment and warehouses are also required to be fully sterilized, including loading and transporting carriers.