Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=small}
Opinions
The milk powder contamination has led to six deaths and 296,000 harmed babies
Flickr/No Middle Name
China will need more than tough talk and executions to rebuild trust in food safety following recent food scares, says an editorial in The Lancet.
In 2008, inspectors found melamine — an industrial chemical that increases food's apparent protein content — in 12 per cent of milk powder products from 22 Chinese dairies. The contamination has led to six deaths and kidney damage in 296,000 babies, says the editorial.
The Chinese government has arrested 60 people in connection with the scandal, executed two, and sentenced the former chairwoman of one of the implicated dairies to life in prison.
Offending dairies have been ordered to pay US$16 million to the families of affected children and the Ministry of Health has established new committees on food safety, stepped up inspections and published a list of banned foods.
But officials warn that the slowing Chinese economy might tempt producers to cut corners in 2009. The editorial recommends transparent regulations to restore confidence and prevent future scandals.
*Free registration is required to view this article
Add your comment
Please wait
All comments are subject to approval and we reserve the right to edit comments containing inappropriate/unsuitable language. SciDev.Net holds copyright for all material posted on the website. Please see terms of use for further details.
All SciDev.Net material is free to reproduce providing that the source and author are appropriately credited. For further details see Creative Commons.
13 February 2012