The ShanghaiDaily.com reported that Shanghai's quality watchdog said that eight batches of tea leaves, roasted seeds and nuts, candy and health products were taken off the shelves.
Their producers have been ordered to fix the problem, according to the website. The supermarkets have been asked to stop selling products with unnecessary packaging and increase their watchfulness or they will face a fine of up to 50,000 yuan (US$8,064), the Shanghai Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau said.
Most of the problematic products were tea and they failed checks for the amount of empty space in the packages. The number of layers of packaging papers as well as the allowed ratio of empty space inside package boxes are the major criteria for determining excessive packaging, according to a local law that took effect in February, according to the ShanghaiDaily.com.
The website also said that roasted seeds and nuts in gift boxes produced by Hangzhou Huaweiheng Food Co, Biluochun green tea of Shanghai Jiafeng Tea Leaf Co and fish oil capsules made by Guangzhou Sirio Pharma Co were placed on a blacklist.
Inspectors checked a total of 60 groups of products sold at 11 local chain supermarkets.
