Seven people were sentenced to prison for producing and selling capsules made with industrial gelatin in East China’s Zhejiang province, according to Xinhua News Agency on Feb 7.

Investigations showed the seven suspects added industrial gelatin to gelatin used for food or medicine when they ran several factories producing capsules for medical use between 2010 and 2012, according to the court in Xinchang county, which announced the verdict on Feb 6.

Tests of the confiscated capsules showed excessive levels of chromium, a chemical that is poisonous in large doses, the court said.

Wang Qing, the prime suspect, was sentenced to 11 years, and the others were sentenced to between 10 months and seven years. They also received fines up to 1.2 million yuan ($195,000).

wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn