Pacific edition, Sunday, February 3, 2008

CAMP LESTER, Okinawa — It’s not just Chinese dumplings that are making people in Japan sick lately.

News services have reported that nearly 500 people became sick after eating gyoza containing a pesticide that causes severe vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

The U.S. Naval Hospital here issued a warning Friday night that all products made by the Chinese manufacturer are suspected of containing traces of the pesticide.

“The frozen gyoza which caused illness in the initial case was imported by JT Foods, but all the products were made at a single factory in China, Hebei Foodstuffs Import & Export Group, Tianyang Food Processing,” the hospital’s press release says.

“The Government of Japan currently acknowledges that 19 companies in Japan import food products originating from the Hebei Foodstuffs facility.”

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare warned consumers to not eat any products made by Hebei Foodstuffs, said Brian Davis, spokesman for the hospital.

“The products should have been removed from shelves at markets across the country by Jan. 30, but consumers should check for products purchased before the recall was announced,” he said.

A customer service spokeswoman for the commissary on Kadena Air Base said Friday that the products are not carried at that store.