The potato flour, found to have contained a bleaching powder in levels higher than allowed for food, was used for mashed potatoes sold at a "renowned fast food chain restaurant."

But the State Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) did not identify the restaurant.

There have been extensive reports in the Chinese press and on web portals that Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), the largest overseas fast food chain operating in China, has suspended the sale of mashed potatoes because it cannot get ingredients from overseas. KFC said Chinese potatoes do not meet its standards for mashed potatoes.

AQSIQ said from February to May, up to 40,000 kilograms of potato flour imported from the US were found to have failed national health standards. The flour was labelled ''unqualified'' and returned to the US.

Since then, AQSIQ has required all of its branches across the country to strengthen inspection of imported potato flour.

Another batch of potato flour imported from the US was later found to have similar problems in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone in East China's Fujian Province.

Since then, no potato flour has been imported from the United States.

The administration said it has informed the US embassy in China of the substandard potato flour.

The embassy was urged to notify US businesses to strengthen quality controls to ensure products meet Chinese standards.

US fast food is quite popular among urban residents in China, especially among young people and children.

(China Daily 08/03/2001)