Safety standards in China's were once again called into question following reports that dozens of people in Japan had become ill after eating imported dumplings containing insecticide.

Among the 80 people reported to have fallen ill was a five-year-old girl who fell into a coma, but later regained consciousness.

This incident casts doubt further on China's commitment to food safety, just months before hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors are expected to arrive in Beijing for the Olympics.

Schools and restaurants in Japan removed Chinese-made food from their menus, and Japanese TV stations warned viewers not to eat any food imported from China. Chinese authorities said Tianyang Food had been ordered to halt production and recall all of its exports.