[linstah]

China has closed down three companies and arrested several people involved in food and drug scandals that have caused alarm both at home and abroad.

Two of the firms exported contaminated wheat protein to the US that eventually led to the deaths of cats and dogs.

Another firm was shut down after being linked to the deaths of a number of people in Panama.

Minister Li Changjiang, in charge of food and drug safety, promised China would improve its standards.

"The Chinese government is moving to address the fundamental problems behind issues relating to food product safety," he said.

Several scandals involving sub-standard Chinese products have emerged in recent weeks, tarnishing the country's international reputation.

Investigations

To restore that damaged image, China launched a series of investigations into each case.

Minister Li personally oversaw the publication of some of the results.

One found that a firm in Jiangsu Province and another in Shandong Province had together exported more than 1,300 tons of contaminated wheat protein to the US.

CHINESE PRODUCT SCARES
Pet food - tainted with chemical melamine
Toothpaste - tainted with chemical diethylene glycol and bacteria
Farmed fish - traces of banned drugs and pesticides found
Tyres - fault may cause blow-outs
Toys - contain lead or pose choking hazard
Children's jewellery - contains lead
Ceramic heaters - pose fire safety risk
Source: FDA and US Consumer Product Safety Commission


China's tainted food crisis
US consumer fears

They avoided detection at customs by labelling their products as chemical ingredients.

These products were contaminated with melamine, a chemical usually used in the production of plastics. They were used to make pet food.

A glycerine factory in Jiangsu Province has also been closed down in connection with the deaths in Panama.

Those occurred after a chemical called TD-glycerin, which should be used only for industrial purposes, found its way into a cough syrup.

However, the minister said two other suspected cases of sub-standard products turned out to be untrue.

And he blamed the foreign media for not waiting until the full facts were known before reporting these incidents.

"I think the majority of news stories are factual. However, some press organisations fail to get the complete or full picture," he said.

China has come under increasing pressure from countries such as the US and Japan to improve the standard of its food and medicines.


Credit to BBC NEWS.

[Mai]

They've already executed the ministry of health

[natty]

oh dang really mai? scary..

i was watching a video the other day.. forgot where.. gotta ask my friend for the link again.. but anyways.. it showed that a company in china makes pork meat out of cardboard and pork fat to sell to the street vendors that makes bun...

[pam]

This is really bad, I hope none of these products came into the US yet, occasionally we would go and eat out to them chinese buffets and restaurants!! I love pork buns too!!

[Mai]

I read in the local paper that he got executed already. It's only been 3 months since the problem erupted, but now only months later they put him to death

[shampoo]

I just went to China Buffet the other day. I knew they have contaiminated food. Their way of treating people's health is not healthy too.

[Mai]

but that's how it is at every restaurant where sanition and health isnt important, not just the chinese lol

[shampoo]

well China is even more uncare about health issue I would say. I thought sanitation is the most important thing in every restaurant! errrgh

Look at their china's shot of using fake drip into human body. It only get people sicker.

http://news.bbc.co.u...fic/6742293.stm

This post has been edited by shampoo: 21 July 2007 - 01:08 PM

[noiki]

well the thing is that china is very responsible but the US is also responsible for not checking. the news the other day said that the usda folks check only a few things that come into the US through the port of SF. the thing is that there's not many ppl who want to do this job that's why it's slipping through their hands.