Posted on 05/17/2007 10:11:03 PM PDT by neverdem
SHANGHAI, May 17 — Weeks after tainted Chinese pet food ingredients killed and sickened thousands of dogs and cats in the United States, this country is facing growing international pressure to prove that its food exports are safe to eat.
But simmering beneath the surface is a thornier problem that worries Chinese officials: how to assure the world that this is not a nation of counterfeits and that “Made in China” means well made.
Already, the contamination has produced one of the largest pet food recalls in American history, heightening global fears about the quality and safety of China’s agricultural products. And evidence has also shown that China exported fake drug ingredients, threatening to undermine the credibility of another booming export.
“This isn’t an international crisis yet, but if they don’t do something about it quickly, it will be,” said David Zweig, a China specialist who teaches at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “The question is whether it spills over and ‘Made in China’ becomes known as ‘Buyer Beware.’ ”
With contamination known to have spread to feed for livestock and fish, some of America’s biggest food companies, like Kraft Foods, are lobbying the United States government to press China to improve its food safety measures.
Kraft, Kellogg and other food companies have said they are reviewing their food safety procedures and upgrading equipment. These executives worry that another scare involving China could set off a consumer backlash against Chinese or foreign imports and reverse a trend that has made large food makers increasingly dependent on processed ingredients from developing countries.
Experts also say doubts about the quality of China’s food shipments and worries about its fake drugs could affect other exports if buyers begin to find safety problems or other product flaws...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Japanese did it by producing quality stuff.
China has a VERY long ways to go...
ping...
I remember when made in Japan equaled junk.
Me too. The sheet metal toys still had the beer can printing on the insides.
The thing I am CONTINUALLY amazed at is why NOBODY is asking how it’s CHEAPER to ship this across the world to China, process it, and THEN ship it back, rather than make it here?
The answers are EASY, but nobody seems to want to deal with them:
OVER-Taxation
OVER-Unionization
Over-Regulation
Inanane enviro rules
UNLIMITED CIVIL LIABILITY
...and slave labor on the other end.
Isn't it nice to find out IN THIS MANNER, that they are apparently using processed ingredients from China. I had no idea...but I am certainly glad that they were named in this article.
Our Senator Grassley has been pushing Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for years. He is vehement about it, but has never been able to get enough support to see it through to his satisfaction. Apparently, it now needs to include all ingredients in products, as well.
Everyone email him...seriously...I have seen him speak about this problem; he is a "crusader" on the issue...and he has some serious power in the Senate.
Do you have an email addy for him?
You are aware that our inspectors were finally let in to "inspect" the companies who provided the tainted wheat gluten...only to find them empty..are you not?
If you would like to live in the third world, I suggest that you move there. The rest of us would like to know that our food supply is safe since part of our exorbitant tax burden goes to INSURE THAT VERY THING.
And, for the record, no one that I'm aware of was bitching about the ever-increasing price of dog food or Kraft macaroni and cheese.
Nope. It is equal opportunity forced slave labor.
My neighborhood Chinese restaurant routinely recyles leftovers.
Here is his Senate page. It allows you to contact him via email. I have written to him many times, and I always get a several-page reply via regular mail addressing each and every concern. He is really a good guy. He has been on the COOL issue for years...this could actually give him the momentum that he needs to push for more stringent measures.
Thanks!
The temper of the times is changing...
Here is an article from 2006, explaining how, even though COOL was part of an already passed bill...they have delayed funding until 2008. This is for meat; but they just keep delaying and delaying. This situation is perfect for him; he might be able to use it to force the issue. For the record, Harkin(Insane-IA) also supports it.
http://www.adpi.org/newsdetails.asp?nid=1165&start=
Move over Elmer's: Nanoglue is thinner, stickier
Postmodern Physics - Colleges Fail to Teach Basics - Even in Physics!
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
I know the work rules and conditions of early 20th century America left a lot to be desired, and that unions were one way to address the problems, but we have long since reached the point of diminishing return.
As an employee of a large shipping company, I’d like to add . . . very low shipping rates.
No one's life or health is threatened by a game or spool of thread made in a country with virtually no environmental controls, but they sure as heck are jeopardized by food or food ingredients produced with polluted water and air.
In some cases, we're talking major savings by food companies on ingredients (which aren't passed along to consumers), which have put American suppliers/growers out of business. It's more than a bit hypocritical for companies such as Kraft (which actually refers to itself as "Kraft Global"), to put the blame on China. Kraft has the resources to set up ingredient testing labs and perform their own QA on these cheap imports,and to insist on correct paperwork, and no amount of pressure on China (although it's badly needed) will stop the corruption and end-run around any regulations put in place.
If they want to bypass draconian environmental laws, high labor costs, etc., in this country in favor of no standards whatsoever for the food supply, let the responsibility be on the food processors' heads -- not the government.
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