Who remembers the fake baby milk powder story?

[Khatru]

Since joining this board I have posted many favourable comments about China and its people and culture. Here's a not so favourable story.

Back in 2004 we read a horrific report about a scandal involving about forty companies that sold fake baby milk powder. From what I have read, the scam took place in a few provinces but it was prevalent in Fuyang in An'Hui province.

Instead of dried milk, the powder was mainly flour, sugar and gluten. The protein in the powder would keep a baby alive for about 8 months but there was nowhere near enough protein for growth. The companies that sold this product had decided that the more ill people's babies became the more powder they would buy.

What actually happened was that the powder made the babies heads swell up and their cheeks became puffy while all the time their internal organs failed to develop. About a dozen babies died of malnutrition around the Fuyang area.

Here's the story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific...

Apparantly the Fuyang City government knew about the scam for nearly a year but they failed to act. This is an example of the Chinese counterfeit industry that the government cannot control.

[Zsari]

Indian bootleg liquor death toll rises to 160
By South Asia correspondent Peter Lloyd
Posted Thu May 22, 2008 10:02pm AEST

The number of people who have died after drinking poisonous homemade alcohol in two Indian states has risen to 160.

Deaths from illegal alcohol are common in India, but the number of casualties in this case is unusually high.

The product was sold last weekend to poor migrant workers in the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu when authorised liquor stores were closed for local elections.

Police say more than 130 people are still in hospital fighting for their lives and expect the death toll to rise.

The authorities say some of the toxic brew is still in circulation.

They are urging the public to hand it in for investigation.

[Khatru]

Terrible indeed.

That's two very definite "wrongs" that will never make a "right".

[MyView]

Khatru wrote:

Terrible indeed.
That's two very definite "wrongs" that will never make a "right".

The point is that they happened in two countries with different political system. As result, they would be treated differently by West media.

[Viet Kieu]

Pharma Blog » 2007 » October » 31
Why Drug Ingredients From China Are A Problem
2 Comments
By Ed Silverman // October 31st, 2007 // 9:15 am

Here is the simple, but troubling reason - ingredients exported from China are often made by chemical companies that are neither certified nor inspected by Chinese drug regulators. And the chemical companies are not required to meet even minimal drug-manufacturing standards, so there is little to stop them from exporting unapproved, adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, The New York Times writes.

In China, chemical manufacturers that sell drug ingredients fall into a regulatory hole. Drugmakers are regulated by the food and drug agency, but chemical companies that make products as varied as fertilizer and industrial solvents are overseen by other agencies. The problem arises when chemical companies cross over into drug ingredients.“We have never investigated a chemical company,� Yan Jiangying, deputy director of policy and regulation at the State Food and Drug Administration, tells the Times.“We don’t have jurisdiction.�

More: http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/10/why-drug-ing...

[Zsari]

Fake drugs a bitter pill for India
By Neeta Lal

NEW DELHI - Two recent reports by international health organizations have highlighted the disquieting magnitude of the counterfeit drugs market in India.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reckons that 75% of the world's total supply of fake drugs can be traced to India. The World Health Organization (WHO) pegs the figure at 35%.

Between 10 and 30% of all pharmaceuticals in developing countries are counterfeit, according to the 2006 WHO figures cited in the OECD report, which estimates that India is the biggest culprit in the spurious drugs market though other countries such as Egypt (7%) and China (6%) contribute to this menace. OECD asserts that counterfeiters include medical professionals such as pharmacists and physicians, organized crime syndicates, bogus pharmaceutical companies, corrupt officials and terrorist organizations.

http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JF07Df01....

[MyView]

Viet Kieu wrote:

Pharma Blog » 2007 » October » 31
Why Drug Ingredients From China Are A Problem
2 Comments
By Ed Silverman // October 31st, 2007 // 9:15 am
Here is the simple, but troubling reason - ingredients exported from China are often made by chemical companies that are neither certified nor inspected by Chinese drug regulators. And the chemical companies are not required to meet even minimal drug-manufacturing standards, so there is little to stop them from exporting unapproved, adulterated or counterfeit ingredients, The New York Times writes.
In China, chemical manufacturers that sell drug ingredients fall into a regulatory hole. Drugmakers are regulated by the food and drug agency, but chemical companies that make products as varied as fertilizer and industrial solvents are overseen by other agencies. The problem arises when chemical companies cross over into drug ingredients.“We have never investigated a chemical company,� Yan Jiangying, deputy director of policy and regulation at the State Food and Drug Administration, tells the Times.“We don’t have jurisdiction.�
More: http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/10/why-drug-ing...

Oh, I see, this became a problem cuz the name of leading party is "communist" party.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

MyView wrote:

<quoted text>
The point is that they happened in two countries with different political system. As result, they would be treated differently by West media.

No, your point is steer the attention away from the Beijing communists that you support.

[Khatru]

MyView wrote:

<quoted text>
The point is that they happened in two countries with different political system. As result, they would be treated differently by West media.

I tend to be take my western media with a pinch of salt. Even more so when I read some of the reports from China that are so stereotypical and full of hyperbole.

Both western and Chinese media has its faults and that is one issue.

The death of babies in China or migrant workers in India is a terrible thing and for me it reflects minimal standards with little powers in place for monitoring and applying any regulations that may exist to safeguard against this sort of thing happening.

One of the reasons we are less competitive in the west is the vast amount of money we invest in health and safety legislation.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

All I can say is that I was in China at the time, and my friend who had a newborn baby was so worried about it.

I have nothing to say about the media on this thread,

[Two Cents]

The Great Wall of Whiner wrote:

All I can say is that I was in China at the time, and my friend who had a newborn baby was so worried about it.
I have nothing to say about the media on this thread,

We need to fight irresponsible fake food sellers in China and in Canada.

Do you remember the 2007 story of fake stickers on baby food in Canada?
Fake stickers applied to baby formula cans, food watchdog warns:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/07/20/b...

We have to fight fake food in Us too.
Fake Food Fight:
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1999/299_foo...

I have a friend in Canada with baby, and they were very concerned about the baby food situation in Canada last year.

[MyView]

Two Cents wrote:

<quoted text>
We need to fight irresponsible fake food sellers in China and in Canada.
Do you remember the 2007 story of fake stickers on baby food in Canada?
Fake stickers applied to baby formula cans, food watchdog warns:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/07/20/b...
We have to fight fake food in Us too.
Fake Food Fight:
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1999/299_foo...
I have a friend in Canada with baby, and they were very concerned about the baby food situation in Canada last year.

You didnt get the point of GWW.

If you spill the mild made in China on table, the milk will spell "Communism" which will brainwash the baby. The stickers made in Canada has a tap of "democracy" on it, therefore babys will still love it.

[MajorMalfunction]

Whether its 'communist' fake baby milk or 'democratic' fake drugs there is a problem and the two governments need to sort it out.