Guys Upstairs - Asia

The 2008 Chinese Milk Scandal centers around one major Chinese firm called the Sanlu Group.  Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy giant and co-operative owner of the Sanlu Group, discovered the tainting of melamine by August 2nd.  However, it took the Sanlu Group six weeks before they adequately responded to the problem.

Melamine was first discovered in the powdered milk; however, it was later discovered in liquid milk.  This led to an investigation of melamine contamination in all Chinese dairy products.  Melamine was added to diluted milk in order to increase the protein content.  Thus, when the milk was tested, the melamine masked the fact the milk has been diluted.  When melamine is introduced into the body, it reacts to produce an insoluble compound which crystallizes in the kidneys.  Over 50,000 illnesses, 13,00 hospitalizations, and four infant deaths have been reported with renal failure and other kidney-related illnesses.  Also, it is hypothesized that impure melamine was used and contained several harmful material, such as urea, ammonia, potassium nitrate, and sodium nitrite (a known carcinogen).  This problem is not isolated to China; it has also affected the following countries:

• United States, Singapore, New Zealand:  White Rabbit Creamy Candy
• Canada: Kaiser Strawberry Dressing Pretzels and Kaiser Choco Dressing Pretzels
• Great Britain: Cadbury Candy
• Taiwan:  Mr. Brown Instant Coffee and Milk Tea

The Chinese government has taken recent actions to prevent future incidents from occurring.   On Monday, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao ordered over 5,000 food safety inspectors to cleanse China’s dairy industry of melamine and other contaminants.  After the discovery of contaminated liquid milk from the Chinese companies: Mengniu, Yili, and Bright Dairy, the Chinese government stripped all three of their status as a “Chinese national brand.”  Now, China is improving their product inspections in hopes of rescuing the “Made in China” brand.  Hopefully, this will curb the growing paranoia of Chinese products.

[BBC News]