China once again is brought to the forefront with a new melamine scare. Now the problem is eggs. Hong Kong authorities has detected melamine in 4 brands of eggs from China.

The melamine, which is high in nitrogen, is added to the food products to make them appear as having a higher protein content. Melamine is cheap, gives the false impression of higher protein so that food inspectors believe the food products are protein enriched and meeting their minimum protein standards.

The feed industry appears to be using the cheap additive, mixing it with food products of various types, to reduce production cost. It appears that this is a national phenomena and one that all have tacitly approved (including the government). It’s their little “open secret”.

China officials reportedly were aware of the situation and began investigating in early October eggs in Liaoning province, however, they put a ban on any media interviews.

After melamine what next?

Reference:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7701477.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7699100.stm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27320256/

Technorati Tags: China, melamine, eggs

Bookmark to:

The Chinese government doesn’t appreciate law suits particularly when the government is part owner of the defendant in the case. After all they are more concerned about economic growth then social well being.

Thus far hundreds of lawyers have volunteered to take on the cases but the Chinese government puts extreme pressure on the lawyers and in the end nothing happens. The complainants are forced to except a small compensation from the government or risk getting nothing.

How about a class action suit?? This is a definite no no. The All China Lawyers Association (ACLA), the country’s bar association, looks down on class action suits and discourages them, and has set up strict rules which in essence make it impossible for a class action suit.

We must remember that in China politics come first and then the law is a distant second.

Makes me wonder what would happen if we as foreigners tried suing the Chinese manufacture of melamine milk if our child got sick or died?

Reference: NY Times Oct 17, 2008

Technorati Tags: China, milk, melamine, melamine milk

Bookmark to:

Photos iStockphoto.com

Technorati Tags: China, Milk, Melamine

Bookmark to:

In another article from Bloomberg they now state that The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has order a recall of 69 infant-milk products made by 22 dairy companines after it was found that they contained melamine. The GAQSIQ has order immediate destruction of all the products.

The GAQSIQ stated that no product produced after September 14 is contaminated and that none of the dairy products supplied for the Olympics was tainted (not sure how they can make this statement with any certainty).

The quality-control agency said no contamination was found in milk products made after Sept. 14, and that the dairy supply for the Beijing Olympics was untainted by melamine.

Technorati Tags: milk, melamine, China

Bookmark to:

Why do they use the melamine? What is the attraction? They like to use it because the melamine mimics protein, and can have give it a boost, making it appear as the protein content is higher. Higher protein at the risk of our infants, a great trade off??

On another note Fonterra a 43% shareholder of Sanlu, the first to be discovered using the melamine in powdered milk, is apologizing to China consumers and promises to recall all milk product produced prior to August 6.

Technorati Tags: Milk, melamine, Hong Kong, China, Wellcome

Bookmark to:

Sanglu the processor has been trying to cover up the contaminated milk even though they have been pressured by food giant New Zealand based Fonterra a 43% stakeholder in Sanlu Group.

According to Ms. Clark of Fonterra they have been pressuring Sanlu to recall the milk back in the early part of August. Perhaps they neglected the request because of the Olympics, or perhaps its just the standard protocol in China to cover it up. Regardless the local authorities would not recall the product. Ms. Clark stated “I think the first inclination was to try and put a towel over it and deal with it without an official recall.” Meanwhile Fonterra’s hands were tied and helpless to do anything (or were they?).

It appears that Sanlu had exported 25 metric tons in August to Taiwan which has now put a ban on all powdered milk from China. At present no reported problems have been announced in Taiwan. So far Taiwan is the only country to be know of importing the powdered milk.

Will the cover ups never end? Why so late to react? Did the China government know? Did the government discourage a recall during the Olympics? Who else is involved in the cover up?

Beware, beware, beware!!! Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware).

Technorati Tags: milk, China, recall, melamine

Bookmark to:

China fake powdered milk, which thus far 1 infant has died from and with over 400 cases of infants reported suffering from kidney problems from the milk, appears to be contaminated with melamine the same chemical that was found in the Menu Foods pet food last year, according to China authorities.

Sanlu Group the largest supplier of powdered milk received complaints last March but failed to report it to the proper authorities. Another China supplier cover up.

China authorities have reported that 19 people have been detained in the fake powdered milk containing melamine since the investigation started.

Technorati Tags: China, milk, melamine

Bookmark to:

The scare has rekindled fears from the last incident in 2004 when 13 babies in Anhui province died after drinking the fake milk powder which was found to contain no nutritional value.

Technorati Tags: Noon International, China

Bookmark to:

If we truly want to fight the greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide emissions then we shouldn’t be eating organic.

What? Organics are not friendly to our skies? Yes, Organic is supposedly good for our health, less pesticides, but is it good for the environment? In a recent article I read in Wired magazine (Joanna Pearlstein), June 2008 they presented a good case for not eating organic.

Consider the following for Dairy cows:

• Dairy cows are not feed hormones thus about 8% less milk is produced per conventional.
• It takes 25 Organic cows to produce what 23 conventional cows produce.
• More cows means more greenhouse gas emissions
• A single Organic cow puts out 16% more greenhouse gases than conventional.
• A double whammy - more cows more greenhouse emissions.

The article goes on to talk of Organic steers (and/or grass fed cattle) versus conventional and the story is the same. More methane gas emissions.

What are we to do?

Become a vegetarian. According to a research project by the University of Chicago, meat diets emit 1.5 more tons of greenhouse gases per year then the vegetarian diet.

Technorati Tags: Noon International, organic

Bookmark to:

The study analyzes 3 different growing conditions:

• Growing vegetables on soil which had low input of minerals
  using animal manure and no pesticides.
• Growing vegetables applying a low input of nutrients using
  animal manure and pesticides, as much as allowed by
  regulation.
• Growing vegetables using a high input of nutrients through
  mineral fertilizers and pesticides as legally allowed.

All the crops were grown on the same or similar soil on adjacent fields at the same time, thus no variance of growing conditions. They were all harvested at the same time as well. (The organic was grown on established organic soil)

After harvest, the results showed no differences in the levels of major and trace elements for the three different methods of growing.

The three different groups of vegetables and fruits were were then fed to animals over a two year period of time. The intake and excretion of various minerals and trace elements were monitored. Again the results showed no difference in retention of the elements regardless of how grown.

Dr. Bügel’s conclusion, there is no systemic difference between organic and conventianal growing methods.

In the end, organic appears to be a lifestlye choice with no added benefit. Read the study here: Is Organic More Nutritious Study

Technorati Tags: Noon International, organic, vegetable

Bookmark to: