U.S. Will Bring Own Food To China For Summer Olympics; Host Nation Upset

Beijing, China (AHN) - China has found in bad taste words that American athletes will have food transported to Beijing for the Summer Olympics.

"I feel it's a pity that they decided to take their own food," Kang Yi, the head of the food division for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, told the Times Online. "We have made lots of preparations to ensure that the athletes can get together at the Olympic Games."

The U.S. decision stems partly from an incident last month when thousands of Japanese fell ill due to contaminated dumplings that were made in China.

Although American athletes are barred from eating in the athletes' village due to Chinese sponsorship deals, they will consume their meals at their training camp which is located outside Olympic Park.

The U.S. is also concerned that Chinese foods may contain high levels of insecticides and even other drugs and steroids that could lead to athletes testing positive for illegal substances.

Other countries are reportedly also considering having meals catered, although Britain just decided to bring a nutritionist to work with local chefs to prepare food for its 270 athletes.

The sheer number of meals estimated to be consumed, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, over the 16 days has health officials from several countries taking the matter very seriously.

That does little to assuage Chinese officials, however.

Tang Yunhua, a spokeswoman for the Beijing Municipal Office for Food Safety, said: "The standards for Olympic food safety are much more strict than international standards."

The matter over food preparation follows concerns over whether China should host the Olympics due to the nation's air pollution and human rights.