In Shanghai, China, a 2-year-old toddler who had been consuming food labeled as 'for children' on a daily basis was diagnosed with mercury poisoning. Chinese media outlet Red Star News reported this on September 30.

The toddler's blood mercury level was 27.87 micrograms per liter, significantly exceeding the standard. The toddler had been eating 'cod for children' food, labeled as such, for approximately 8 months, 2-3 times a week, averaging 110 grams per week. The manufacturer explained that 'for children' merely refers to the condition where skin and bones have been removed, and does not imply food specifically for infants and young children.

According to the article, cod products labeled 'for children' and 'for babies' were being sold on multiple e-commerce platforms, accompanied by promotional phrases such as 'mom-selected,' 'for baby's weaning,' and 'safe to eat.' However, after the issue came to light, related products were taken off sale, and terms like 'children' and 'baby' were removed.

According to food industry insiders, while there are food safety standards for foods specifically made for infants and young children aged 0-3, there are no standards for other foods labeled 'for children' or 'for babies,' meaning they are essentially the same as general food products.

A doctor from a Grade-A hospital in Guangdong Province pointed out that 'cod is a large, deep-sea carnivorous fish at the top of the food chain, with a relatively high methylmercury content. If toddlers eat it frequently over several weeks, there is a risk of excessive exposure to methylmercury.' However, the detailed pages for cod products listed on many e-commerce platforms reportedly contained no mention of methylmercury risks.

Sun Yiqian (スン・イーチエン) from Beijing Strategy Law Firm pointed out, 'Sellers have a duty to verify products during procurement and to review promotional content. If there are issues, they must be asked to rectify or suspend sales.' He added, 'If a seller fails to verify and sells products with false advertising, they may be liable for compensation to consumers.'

Food industry analyst Zhu Danpeng (ジュー・ダンフォン) pointed out, 'Cod contains a certain amount of mercury, and there may be risks for certain age groups. Platforms (that sell these products) need to provide clear guidelines, such as indicating a maximum weekly intake for a 2-year-old, and continuously improve their service systems.'

Zhao Liangshan (ジャオ・リアンシャン), a senior partner at Shaanxi Hengda Law Firm, stated that the problematic products are not legally defined as foods specifically for children, but rather general frozen seafood products. He pointed out, 'While sellers appeal to toddlers with promotional phrases like 'high DHA' and 'high nutrition,' there is a risk of methylmercury. Despite being unsuitable for frequent consumption by young children, sellers have not provided sufficient warnings. Even if the mercury content meets standards for general seafood products, promotional claims that mislead consumers (such as being for toddlers) are problematic.'

Yu Ruifen (ユー・ルイフェン), a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, proposed the urgent establishment of a national standard called 'General Technical Requirements for Minor Food,' which would set different requirements for minors aged 3-18 based on their age and food type. Sun, mentioned earlier, also proposed establishing standards for 'children's specific foods' for each age group, such as 0-3 years old and 3-6 years old, to standardize the use of labels and introduce a simple reporting system where companies submit formulations and inspection reports to regulatory authorities. (Translated and edited by Kitada)