Growing China produces most of world's vitamins

miamihearald ^ | Jun. 05, 2007 | BY TIM JOHNSON

[Flavius]

SHIJIAZHUANG, China -- If you pop a vitamin C tablet in your mouth, it's a good bet it came from China.

In less than a decade, China has captured 90 percent of the U.S. market for vitamin C, driving almost everyone else out of business. Chinese pharmaceutical companies also have taken over much of the world market in the production of antibiotics, analgesics, enzymes and primary amino acids.

According to an industry group, China makes 70 percent of the world's penicillin, 50 percent of its aspirin and 35 percent of its acetaminophen (often sold under the brand name Tylenol), as well as the bulk of vitamins A, B12, C and E.

[Flavius]

A labourer collects dead fish at a pond on the outskirts of Wuhan, central China's Hubei province, June 4, 2007. About 125,000kg of fish have died in the last three days due to water pollution, local media reported. REUTERS/Stringer

[Flavius]

rehash of the nightmare we are in

[Flavius]

Since U.S. laws don't require food and drug labels noting the country of origin of ingredients, it's impossible for consumers to know where food or supplements are coming from, not to mention what factory produced them.

how awesome is that

[RightWhale]

China’s stock market dropped 8% yesterday. Probably not related to the coming meltdown.

[Flavius]

no that was government artificially cooling the market

they cant go down they make everything they are trying to slow down

the slapped tax on profits on the market

it dumped then went up 1.3%

they are fine they are doing just fine

[New Girl]

Yeah, how are we even supposed to make informed choices? I’m pregnant and I have to take pre-natal vitamins and can only use tylenol for pain relief. Believe me, this article scares the $%^& out of me!

[reagan_fanatic]

I fear we've put far too many of our eggs in one basket. Should things go south with China for any reason, the ensuing disruptions in trade would cripple our economy.

But hey - who's gonna stand in the way of our right to $30 DVD players and $10 telephones?

[RightWhale]

They want to be capitalist like America. Unfortunately they didn’t want the whole deal and without the whole deal you just get a flash in the mineshaft and then it collapses.

[Lurker]

Growing China produces most of world's vitamins

And 95% of the worlds poisoned pet food, and 100% of the worlds poisoned toothpaste!

Way to go China!!

L

[sarasota]

The May 28 issue of Fortune magazine has an interesting article on how the Chinese are returning to things their roots and away from Westernization. Making that statement with t-shirts bearing the Chinese flag; just in time for the Olympics.

[toddlintown]

“About 125,000kg of fish have died in the last three days due to water pollution...”

That’s all right. Grind ‘em up and put them in gelatin capsules. Don’t you know that fish oil is good for you?

[Lurker]

Growing China produces most of world's vitamins

And 95% of the worlds poisoned pet food, and 100% of the worlds poisoned toothpaste!

Way to go China!!

L

[Abathar]

I agree 100% with you there New Girl, with the other stories about toothpaste and protein additives in dog food I would rather pay double to get my stuff made here in the states. We have something called QC, it’s a concept completely dependent upon convenience over there, and whether it is profitable to do it.

[pissant]

Vote Duncan Hunter. End this stupidity.

[brownsfan]

“I fear we’ve put far too many of our eggs in one basket. Should things go south with China for any reason, the ensuing disruptions in trade would cripple our economy.”

Some of us have been saying that for years. And in the process I’ve been called a protectionist, a socialist, a communist, and invited to go join the DU.

[RightWhale]

Should things go south with China

This is on the list of the fifty ways our modern industrial society could lock up with the digital clock blinking 12:00.

[RightWhale]

protectionist, a socialist, a communist

Yes, and a power-projector, too.

[Monterrosa-24]

Well, I get ticked when such things as cowboy shirts and American footballs are made there. But despite reports on questionable fertilizers/manure Chinese rice is mighty good tasting. I got 20 lbs. at the Commissary and it was the best tasting white rice ever.

But it is idiotic for America to have in place all these incentives for all of our consumer goods to be made abroad. We are becoming like spoiled slave owners who can’t do anything for ourselves. We’re mighty fond of that Chinese slave labor...and they have free dental care over there dontcha know.

[Gorzaloon]

That sound you just heard was a jar of Cosco generic Viatmins hitting the trashcan.

[Born to Conserve]

The problem is not China selling us crap. That is just a symptom. It is OUR government applying tax and mandate burdens on our domestic production that has caused all the problems.

If you believe in free trade, then you must believe in free domestic commerce.