Posts Tagged ‘trade’

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?

About ... free trade deal with China

Aunty Helen Clarke is in U.K.. Yesterday she appeared on Hardtalk, BBC's flagship interview programme. It's only 30 minutes long, but a lot of issues were discussed, from republican movement to carbon neutral, and also hot on the agenda, the free trade deal agreement. Read more