Authorities in China have seized more than seven million toxic disposable food containers, state media reported, in the latest product safety scare to hit the nation. Seven companies in the eastern province of Jiangxi were busted for manufacturing the long-banned foam boxes using plastic waste and fluorescent whitening agents, the official China Daily newspaper said. Disposable food containers are routinely used by restaurants across China. Authorities banned foam boxes in 1999, but they can still be found in many parts of the country. The warmth of a hot meal causes toxic elements used to make the foam containers to seep into the food. Those substances can damage people's livers, kidneys and reproductive systems. China is regularly hit by product safety scandals despite government pledges to clean up the food industry.