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E-mailMade Popular Oct 10 2008
Philippines :
The controversy over contaminated Chinese milk offers us lessons about globalization, food production, and nutrition.
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Think it is a sad event for China entering the 21st century. However there should have been quality control checks and balances on products before they left the factory gate. Cadbury or Fonterra should have put in place measures of this quality control for the Chinese people and helped more rather than look at operations as a cheaper way to manufacture products. I don’t just blame China.
(Global Perspectives)
Thanks for the comment, Marie.
Fonterra in New Zealand was able to avert what could be a grave disaster in New Zealand. They were the earliest to put in measures to ban importation. I’m not sure though if it was, indeed, Fonterra. But it was definitely a milk company in New Zealand.
If I’m not mistaken, Fonterra of New Zealand is a business partner of Sanlu, the embattled Chinese milk manufacturer from whence the scandal broke.
Fonterra had already alarmed Sanlu way before the Beijing Olympics (or even earlier), but politics, the need for a good image for the Olympics, and censorship got in the way.
Fonterra in New Zealand was able to avert what could be a grave disaster in New Zealand. They were the earliest to put in measures to ban importation. I’m not sure though if it was, indeed, Fonterra. But it was definitely a milk company in New Zealand.
If I’m not mistaken, Fonterra of New Zealand is a business partner of Sanlu, the embattled Chinese milk manufacturer from whence the scandal broke.
Fonterra had already alarmed Sanlu way before the Beijing Olympics (or even earlier), but politics, the need for a good image for the Olympics, and censorship got in the way.
(Local Perspectives)
@ Grace:
I think the Chinese government almost had a train coming to hit them just before the Olympics. They needed to cover this up. But do you seriously think that Fonterra hid this till the Games were over? After all, their brand was that suffered the most.
I think the Chinese government almost had a train coming to hit them just before the Olympics. They needed to cover this up. But do you seriously think that Fonterra hid this till the Games were over? After all, their brand was that suffered the most.
(Global Perspectives)
Maybe there were under-the-table payouts in tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to keep them shut for a couple of weeks.
If this is the case, the Fonterra guys must be held guilty too while babies were still having the contaminated milk and must be prosecuted.
If this is the case, the Fonterra guys must be held guilty too while babies were still having the contaminated milk and must be prosecuted.
(Global Perspectives)
@ Gavin
I don’t think Fonterra hid it. The company did what it could before the Olympics, and that was to alert Sanlu about it.
But these things needed intensive scientific testing before any findings can confirm or negate Fonterra’s allegations.
It could have been expedited, I agree. But Fonterra did alert the China company. Censorship in China went overtime to cover it up.
The scandal broke out only after the babies were confirmed sick.
I don’t think Fonterra hid it. The company did what it could before the Olympics, and that was to alert Sanlu about it.
But these things needed intensive scientific testing before any findings can confirm or negate Fonterra’s allegations.
It could have been expedited, I agree. But Fonterra did alert the China company. Censorship in China went overtime to cover it up.
The scandal broke out only after the babies were confirmed sick.
(Local Perspectives)
@ Hayley
You are right. The controversial time frame is about that short only - around a few weeks.
You are right. The controversial time frame is about that short only - around a few weeks.
(Local Perspectives)
The Chinese government couldn't cover it because of the New Zealand company Fonterra that has 43 percent stake in San Lu the culprit company and such things don't stay under wraps in civilized and developed nations that care about human life.
(Global Perspectives)
Right, Jonathan. Human lives have been at stake. This kind of thing cannot be hidden for long.
(Local Perspectives)
The milk powder was contaminated with Melamine, a toxic, for tricking the protein test which relies on nitrogen levels. The reason to do is to dilute the real thing with cheap alternative for higher profits. This causes kidney chronic ailments in small kids.
(Global Perspectives)
Spot on, Martin.
Totally malicious effort. Greed for profit margins is what it has all been.
Totally malicious effort. Greed for profit margins is what it has all been.
(Local Perspectives)
Apparently this malpractice was approved by the highest officials who are now in Chinese custody and would be executed in all probability. This is one of the rare occasions where I can endorse the Chinese method of justice for some non violent crimes.
(Global Perspectives)
It took a toll of just 13,000 babies from a population of 1,300,000,000. Sounds kinda proportionate to me. One baby dead for each 100,000 people in China. This may be one of the old Chinese ways to keep population under control.
(Global Perspectives)
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I believe Fonterra revealed the findings on its Sanlu imports - to Sanlu. The company had to alert Sanlu first.
It was up to Sanlu to do the scientific investigations. Somewhere between that and the scandal breaking out were the Olympics and heavy censorship.