China's quality watchdog said on Tuesday that nationwide tests of zongzi -- glutinous rice dumplings traditionally eaten on the Dragon Boat Festival -- have shown that 2.6 percent failed to meet national food quality standards.

All the tested zongi is for domestic sales.

Zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, are popular for greeting the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 8 this year, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

The special sample inspection conducted by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) covered 235 types of zongzi produced by 142 companies in 17 areas, including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Sichuan and Henan.

The AQSIQ named and shamed northeastern Changchun Delia Food Co., Ltd. for excessive copper content and Shanghai Laozhou Food Co., Ltd. for excessive diarrhea-causing colon bacillus bacteria content in their products.

The AQSIQ has asked these companies to rectify and improve food quality within a set time span.

Meanwhile, Beijing-based Daoxiangcun, Sanquan Foods Co., Ltd., based in central Henan Province, and 17 other food producers were commended for superior quality.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)