BEIJING - Chinese authorities discovered 261 batches of substandard food imports in August, the country's top quality supervisor said Monday.

Excessive food additives, microbial contamination and poor quality were problems for the imported food, said Chen Jing, spokesperson of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), at a press conference.

The rejected food fell under 18 categories, mainly cake, cookies, sugar products and beverages from 34 countries and regions, she said.

AQSIQ also found 13 shipments of substandard cosmetic products imported from five countries and regions. The problems mainly involved labeling, quality and microbial contamination, said Chen.

All substandard products were either sent back or destroyed, Chen said.

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