5 Imported Foods From China You Should Avoid

Chinese enforcement officers check the dates on the tins of milk powder at a shop in Tongzi, southwest China's Guizhou region on February 9, 2010, as dairy products containing the industrial chemical melamine have been turning up again in stores. China is hunting for nearly 100 tonnes of tainted milk powder that was supposed to have been destroyed after a 2008 scandal over the deaths of six babies. AFP/Getty Images

Chinese food scandals have made media headlines for years now. From deadly melamine in milk products  to harmful honey, China has long allowed toxic food products (and other dangerous exports) to leave its borders. Most American media and the U.S. government have not made enough effort to inform the public that food from China may be dangerous and is rarely inspected by the Food and Drug administration. FDA inspectors examine a mere 2.3 percent of all food imports. Thus, it is left up to consumers to safeguard their own health by making smart choices about what to put on the table.

Here are the top 5 products imported from China that you should watch out for.

1) Tilapia

Tilapia is the current fish of favor. Whole Foods Markets are promoting Tilapia with an onsite chef and free tasting. TV commercials promoting Tilapia are frequent. Yet 80 percent of the current tilapia supply—382.2 million pounds per year—comes from China.