Evian has established a presence in Shanghai through high-end restaurants, hotels and supermarkets since the Danone Group introduced the brand to China. [File Photo]

Famous French brand Evian was found again to be exporting substandard mineral water to China.

The imported batch, weighing 2.4 tons,?was?found to contain excessive nitrite, a chemical which increases the risk of cancer, according to a test by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The batch was imported from France by a trade company based in Beijing, said the authority. The firm was ordered to ship the water back.

The water is among 209 imported food and cosmetic items found to be substandard, said the quality inspectors. Among the others was a powdered formula for baby use, also imported from France, that was destroyed when the inspection found the volume of lactose, vitamin D and selenium content failed to comply with domestic standards.

None of the affected products made it to the Chinese market as they were shipped back to exporters, destroyed or converted for other uses, the authority said.

For Evian, it marked at least the fourth time the firm's water was blacklisted. In November last year, its water was also found to contain excessive nitrite and was shipped back. In January, more than 80 tons of its mineral water failed entry inspection, also for excessive nitrite, and was destroyed by the local authority. In 2007, the regulator seized 118 tons of Evian water with excessive amounts of bacteria.

Evian has established a presence in Shanghai through high-end restaurants, hotels and supermarkets since the Danone Group introduced the brand to China.

In its defense, Danone cited the difference between the local standard and the one set by the World Health Organization, and said that microbial flora was commonly found in natural spring water.