Lipton tea found with toxic content

Among 58 oolong products targeted, 19 were found to contain excessive levels of rare-earth elements, including the Tieguanyin produced by Unilever-owned Lipton, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said Tuesday, Guangzhou Daily reported.

The consumer product giant Unilever said on Thursday that it had recalled and destroyed a batch of Lipton tea bags - one of its branded products - in response to the charge that they contained impurities.[Photo/sohu.com]

Under Chinese law, rare-earth content should be below 2 milligrams per kilogram, but all the 19 products had higher levels. It is 3.2 milligrams per kilogram in Lipton Tieguanyin.

In addition, the Zhengxiangyuan Anxi Tieguanyin was found to have poor flavor. Unilever told the daily newspaper after the official announcement that all of its unqualified products have been recalled.

The administration said rare earth can help to raise output and improve flavor, but overuse leaves residue in the product that can harm health.