A total of 2,499 batches of substandard imported food were stopped from entering China last year, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

In March this year, entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities also stopped 156 batches of unsafe food from 28 countries and regions from entering the domestic market, People’s Daily reported on Monday.

Substandard overseas food stopped from entering China covered a wide range, including frozen squid from Spain with excessive levels of cadmium, crab powder from Norway that was found to contain excessive arsenic, tea from Germany with excessive levels of rare earth elements and sugar products from Ireland containing banned chemicals.

Famous international brands were also found with problems, such as Heinz and Beingmate, whose baby food supplements sold in China were found to contain excessive levels of mercury, the newspaper reported.