contaminated milk powder
I just need to turn your attention to China. Since last month, babies in several Chinese provinces fall ill after long time consumption of Sanlu baby powder. Most babies have stones in their kidneys, and several were confirmed died of this cause.
The milk powder was found contaminated with a chemical called melamine .It is mainly used to made plastic materials, but there are previous cases that some businesses have used this chemical to get the protein level for their product to appear higher as is rich in nitrogen. So you cannot rule out the possibility that somebody, or the Sanlu itself, deliberately added the chemcial into the powder.
The sign of "contamination" appeared as early as march this year, but there was not public reaction from any party, including fonterra, until last week when all the contamination chemicals have been recalled.
Sanlu, a Chinese based company, is partially owned by Fonterra (43%). I don't think there is a need for me to explain what Fonterra is to New Zealand readers.
Fonterra's involvement in this issue is still not very clear. As far as I understand, the contaminated milk powder was processed from 100% Chinese produced materials, i.e. no New Zealand materials were used.
But that's far from enough, I want to know whether Fonterra knew anything before the contamination made public, whether they have done enough to stop contaminated milk powder from entering the market.
According to today's New Zealand Herald Report, the answer from Fonterra, is yes ... which I don't believe in. I want to get independent report on Fonterra's involvement, and it really sickens me that PM and trade minister defended Fonterra before the investigation - how would them react if more than 500 New Zealand baby was poisoned by milk powder made by a company with 43% of shares owned by Chinese?
Interesting to read your thoughts. Back when the story broke I also wondered about Fonterra's involvement.
Based on what I heard about their reaction I still think they could have done more - i.e. gone to the media and government/s earlier. I also wonder how they got themselves in that position anyway. It is open knowledge that all sorts of food adulteration goes on in China. How come they didn't keep a closer eye on what was going on in their investment? Perhaps Fonterra's stupidity borders on being criminal?
I also wondered about whether Chinese media/people in New Zealand would have any interesting perspectives not expressed elsewhere. Since I was overseas at the time I didn't have a chance to look at any local Chinese print media. Looking through some online forums didn't turn up anything not said elsewhere. Depressingly, some of the overseas students were muttering about the entire fiasco was 'fake news' - presumably invented to discredit China.
I was somewhat impressed at how outraged the New Zealand public seemed to be. People at least appeared to care.
Chinese visitors have not stopped loading up on milk powder at the supermarkets here in NZ so I guess whatever damage NZ's 'wholesome' image took it remains better than that of China.
Really though, what a complete disaster for everyone involved. It's just pathetic that this kind of stuff can happen.
I'm pretty happy on how Fonterra was punished, more than 75% of values of their Sanlu shares vanished after this scandal, I hope this will make them to do the right thing at right time in the future.
But in China the whole thing is still not over, parents of the victims tried to sue Sanlu and others who were responsible, but only to find their attempt blocked by government and court. Here's a Chinese blog worth to keep an eye on:http://blog.sina.com.cn/xuzhiyong