What's the Full Extent of the Melamine Milk Fiasco?
September 30, 2008
Although the list of products recalled due to melamine concerns seems to grow a little every day, the number of those who have been affected seems more stable now.
While it's comforting to know that the situation is improving, for me personally, these changes are a little overdue, since most of the foods on the recalled list were regulars in my diet in Beijing.
Starbucks cappuccinos, Cadbury chocolate, Ritz crackers, cheese of just about every variety, Yili yogurt, milk . . . you name it, I've probably eaten it. But chances are these melamine-laced products are just the tip of the iceberg.
Melamine is a chemical that can be toxic to humans, of course, but what about the pesticides and herbicides used in fruits and vegetables. While you can wash, boil, or peel fruits and vegetables, if vegetable farms got the same type of oversight as their dairy counterparts, are they any safer?
What about beef, fish, or chicken? Were hormones or chemicals added to give those meats the most nutritious appearance? What types of feed were they given?
When you really think about it, very few foods probably would pass the highest level of health standards, whether they’re pesticide-covered vegetables, hot dogs, or artificial sweeteners.
Despite the sobering reality that our food probably isn’t really as safe as we’d like it to be, we shouldn’t simply settle for the status quo. China really has a unique opportunity to raise its food quality standards across the board, and restore consumer confidence.
This process might not happen as quickly as some might hope, and the cost of these reforms has come at too high a price to thousands of innocent infants. On the other hand, opening the Pandora’s box within China’s dairy industry might also enable other food industries worldwide to improve their standards, and ultimately save lives.
CHINA CONNECTION Main Page >>
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
