Steamed stuffed buns found contaminated by pesticide remains were produced by Japanese wholly-funded enterprises in China, said China's quality watchdog on Friday.

Methamidophos, a harmful chemical substance, was recently found in two batches of steamed stuffed buns, or baozi in mandarin, exported from China to Japan. The Japanese government informed China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) about the case.

The pollution should have been caused by loopholes in the producers' purchase of raw materials like vegetables, Xinhua learnt from the AQSIQ.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)