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kittylyda
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« Reply #960 on: October 12, 2008, 01:10:46 PM » |
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What happened to Menusux?  Please come back! I read everything you post and appreciate your very thorough research. |
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lesliek
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« Reply #961 on: October 12, 2008, 05:40:40 PM » |
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I hope Menusux will feel able to return after a break. I think we all appreciate her research & rely on it. This goes for all the others who have left also. We miss you !
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"the world's most inept extortionist"
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #962 on: October 12, 2008, 05:44:36 PM » |
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One month and one day into this global scandal, I don't believe anyone could write a better summary of what the problem is than this: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/12/business/food.3-347384.phpThe melamine stain: One sign of a worldwide problem By Thomas Fuller Sunday, October 12, 2008 The stain of melamine is that there has been no global effort to keep up with food safety while the food supply has been globalized. It's just that simple. As with air quality and water quality, food is now a hazardous substance. The food safety authorities of the U.S. have come down squarely on the side of attempting to guesstimate the amount of deadly toxins like melamine the citizens of this country can consume, and that policy will stand unless there is major American consumer protest. And if you want to see how frighteningly true that is, read this story from Jamaica about how easily trusting people of the world might be misled: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com:80/news/html/20081012T000000-0500_141231_OBS_FOOD_FOR_THE_POOR_SAYS_CHINESE_INFANT_FORMULA_IT_ISSUED_TO_LOCAL_MOMS_SAFE.aspFood for the Poor says Chinese infant formula it issued to local moms safe BY TANEISHA LEWIS Sunday Observer staff reporter lewist@jamaicaobserver.comSunday, October 12, 2008 |
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« Last Edit: October 12, 2008, 06:01:07 PM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #964 on: October 13, 2008, 06:24:24 AM » |
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http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RS22713_20080922.pdfCRS Report for Congress Health and Safety Concerns Over U.S. Imports
of Chinese Products: An Overview
Wayne M. Morrison Specialist in International Trade and Finance
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, September 22, 2008
In 2007, China overtook Canada to became the largest source of U.S. imports (at
$322 billion); about 17% of all U.S. imports now come from China. ...
China’s Poor Regulatory System
China is believed to have a rather weak health and safety regime for manufactured
goods and agricultural products. Problems include weak consumer protection laws and
poorly enforced regulations, lack of inspections and ineffective penalties for code
violators, underfunded and understaffed regulatory agencies and poor interagency
cooperation, the proliferation of fake goods and ingredients, the existence of numerous
unlicensed producers, falsified export documents, extensive pollution,6 intense
competition that often induces firms to cut corners, the relative absence of consumer
protection advocacy groups, failure by Chinese companies to effectively monitor the
quality of their suppliers’ products, restrictions on the media,7 and extensive government
corruption and lack of accountability, especially at the local government level ...
However, it is unclear how long it will take for the central government to effectively address
the numerous challenges it faces (especially government corruption and counterfeiting) to ensure
that its exports comply with the health and safety standards of the United States and other trading
partners. Additionally, a sharp decrease in purchases by U.S. consumers of Chinese
products could negatively impact U.S. firms that import and/or sell such products and may
raise prices of some commodities as firms attempt to rectify various safety problems.
The current crisis in China over melamine-tainted milk (which can cause kidney
stones) and the growing number of children who have reportedly have become ill (tens
of thousands) have seriously challenged the government’s assertions that most products
made in China are safe and that an effective regulatory regime has been established. The
government announced on September 22, 2008, that China’s chief quality supervisor had
stepped down from his post over the incident. Other local and provincial officials have
reportedly been sacked for trying to cover up incident. At least 22 Chinese baby formula
companies have been found to have tainted products. Press reports indicate that other
milk products made in China may have been contaminated as well.. Duh! China is not a fit trading partner and will not be for the foreseeable future. American consumers already know that. Now give the U.S. shopper the labels that say made in China so we can protect our families in the grocery store because food safety authorities in the United States continue to allow the import of dangerous Chinese food and defective Chinese manufactured goods. We're totally fed up and want to stop poisoning our families. Table 1 lists products imported from China in 2007 that have been the subject of
recent U.S. health and safety concerns, such as toys, seafood, tires, animal foods, organic
chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and toothpaste. It indicates that China was a major
source of imports for many of these products. For example, China was the largest
supplier of imported toys (89% of total), seafood products (15%), and tires (26%); the 2nd
largest foreign supplier of animal food products (24%); the 6th largest supplier of
toothpaste (1%); and the 9th largest source of imported pharmaceuticals and organic
chemicals (3%). (See attached Table 1) According to Table 1, China supplies 24 percent of the US animal food imported and is the number 2 trading partner. Given the level of melamine in animal food imports, no wonder our pets died in 2007. How much of the meat you're eating contains melamine in the tissues? If it's MIC [Made in China] food product or raw ingredients, it has to be detained, inspected, and safety tested; or outright banned as a US import. Carol, we seem to have found the same article with different titles. I hope Mr. Fuller's statement is reprinted everywhere.
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« Last Edit: October 13, 2008, 07:21:56 AM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #966 on: October 13, 2008, 08:17:09 AM » |
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Main stream media spins: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE49C0D020081013?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNewsChina milk scandal companies apologize Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:29am EDT BEIJING (Reuters) - Three Chinese dairy companies have publicly apologized for their involvement in a toxic milk scandal that has killed at least four children and led to Chinese-made products pulled from shelves around the world. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE49C2SH20081013Media watchdog probes Taiwan's milk powder coverage Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:29am EDT TAIPEI (Reuters) - An international media watchdog said on Monday it was probing allegations the Taiwan government, which wants better ties with Beijing, tried to influence local coverage of China's tainted milk powder scandal. It wasn't overt interference, but there was a clear message conveyed that (the government) wasn't satisfied with the reports," said Sam Grunhard, project director with the Australia-based federation, which claims 600,000 members in 122 countries. "We need to find out more." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/12/EDLO13ED5P.DTLWhat raw milk and the economic meltdown have in common David E. Gumpert Monday, October 13, 2008 What do American collateralized debt obligations have in common with Chinese dairy products? For starters, both can be highly toxic. |
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« Last Edit: October 13, 2008, 08:27:04 AM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #967 on: October 13, 2008, 08:32:03 AM » |
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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jL7mHkJcSHVOLlejms7eQS2xXDiwD93PHVV01China dairy sued over infant's toxic milk death
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN – 5 hours ago [October 13, 2008]
BEIJING (AP) — The family of a baby whose death has been blamed on toxic milk filed suit against one of China's largest dairies Monday, while another dairy ensnared in the scandal said it was a victim of unscrupulous subcontractors.
The lawsuit against Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group Co. was filed over the May 1 death of 6-month-old Yi Kaixuan in the northwestern city of Lanzhou, the family's lawyer said.
It is the first to be filed over a child who died from drinking the tainted milk and asks for almost $160,000 in damages... It won't be known until Tuesday, Oct. 14 if the Chinese court will accept the lawsuit.
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #968 on: October 13, 2008, 08:48:27 AM » |
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Comment from a reader on the Reuters story that 94,000 Chinese babies were affected according to Reuters press local reports from China: http://www.topix.com/forum/world/TQ3FOR1DCBJ1O9LCFAs I'd referenced in another story about acceptable limits of melamine that China will find acceptable in milk.)
What???
Regulations for how much melamine can be in milk? Someone is smoking some serious crack here or intentionally trying to hurt/kill people. Yes, I did say this would be nothing short of premeditated acts of murder.
Wait while I give them the percentage of melamine that they can safely have in milk:
ZERO!
(OK, now I'm appending to the original comment.)
Meanwhile, mindless American citizens flood the Wal*Marts because they have "great prices" (and are the dumping station for all products, such as these). Trust me, we'll find out that some of the products got to Wally World, just like the tainted pet food did, earlier this year.
I think the price of my life is a greater thing to be concerned about than purchasing cheap items. -- JimmMotyka |
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« Last Edit: October 13, 2008, 08:57:43 AM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #969 on: October 13, 2008, 09:20:26 AM » |
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http://www.twocircles.net/2008oct08/chinese_authorities_reopen_probe_melamine_death.htmlChinese authorities reopen probe into melamine death Submitted by Mudassir Rizwan on 8 October 2008 - 9:38am. International Science/Health By Xinhua, Urumqi (China) : Health authorities in northwest China have reopened the investigation into the first of the four infant deaths suspected to be related to the consumption of milk products tainted with industrial chemical melamine. The health department of Xinjiang region reported the death, which was attributed to kidney stones, on Sep 18. Since then the toll in the contaminated milk related diseases has risen to four. The infant died at a hospital in Bayingolin prefecture of Mongolia, the regional health department said on its website but gave no details. The information was deleted from the website the next day. "The baby died from complications related to kidney stones in March. At first we thought it was caused by the baby formula contaminated with the chemical melamine, but now we need to check whether the death was directly linked to the tainted milk," said Li Huaihai, health department spokesman. "Medical experts are reinvestigating the case, but it needs time to get the final result as the baby had been buried," he said, without saying how the examination would be conducted or when it would be completed. Three babies, two in the Gansu province in the northwest and one in Zhejiang province in the east, died after consuming tainted milk powder from May to August, according to the ministry of health. No deaths were reported in September. The contaminated baby formula left more than 53,000 babies with urinary tract problems, including kidney stones, according to the ministry. Some 12,892 infants were hospitalized, the ministry said Sep 21. It has not updated the figures since then. The director of the ministry's information office, who declined to be named, said Wednesday that the ministry would release updated figures "at a suitable time".
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #970 on: October 13, 2008, 09:40:11 AM » |
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http://www.goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=311931For what it's worth, here's a US blog post very close to home, not documented, China's Melamine poisoned milk infects Hershey's & Archers'
My analytical chemist buddy sent me this shocker just now.
OH, PLEEZE, folks, make this viral. He can stand the heat and has the credentials to back up the research.
It is absolutely mandatory that this message "go viral"!!!!!!!!!
HALLOWEEN IS IN 2 weeks!
JW wrote me 10/12/2008, 9:15AM EDT,
"Yesterday, Target in Charlotte,NC started pulling Archers' items off the shelf. Our analysis of the chocolate shows melamine at levels exceeding the 2.5 ppm levels mandated by FDA.
"Today's paper in the Charlotte Observer notes that the only chocolate made in the US today is Dove from Mars. The old standby Hershey chocolate to maintain a competitive standing has seen fit to cut workforce by 3000 in the US and move its operations further into India, China, Mexico and Brazil.
"Need I remind you that Hershey chocolate made from contaminated milk from China containing melamine is finding it self in Europe in Swiss Chocolate and more so in Hershey chocolate. Melamine in children can cause renal failure and kidney stones. China has over 10,666 children in the hospitals today that have been officially reported by the Chinese Govt. all due to melamine contamination. This practice continues in China and outside China and without oversight the chocolate is at risk.
"Without oversight in the last several years, foreign produced food and plastics and other items coming from these countries is akin to a form of terror among citizens who would normally trust its food supplies, but not now!
"As of July 08 new regulations even by Wal-mart have been promulaged (<--published) to analytically check plastics coming into their stores for sale. Therefore, be aware of these issue to protect yourselves and your family."
JW
================================================== =============================
Joseph Webster is an expert on plastics stabilization technologies with more than 30 years' experience. He started as a researcher in plastics additives with Shell Development Co. in 1972. After 15 years, he moved to American Cyanamid, where he was principal investigator in plastics additives, and then to Sandoz Chemicals as manager of pigments and additives. When the Sandoz business was sold to Clariant Corp., Webster joined that firm. When he left Clariant Corp. in 2002, he started his own consulting and compounding firm, Stabilization Technologies LLC, Charlotte, N.C., with operations in Canada, Europe, and China. In 2002, he received the American Chemical Society Award for Innovation in Industrial Chemistry.Sent October 13, 2008: From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <jwebster1@carolina.rr.com>
Subject: Target pulling Archers
Date: Monday, October 13, 2008 9:35 AM
Dear Mr. Webster:
Can you confirm this report of Target pulling Archers off shelves on October 12, 2008?
I'm a concerned grandma.
Additionally, sir, who tested this product and showed it contained melamine?
Thank you very much.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX[ If I get anything back on this email, I will post it immediately!!! Has great potential to be an internet hoax.]
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« Last Edit: October 13, 2008, 09:59:01 AM by 3catkidneyfailure »
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3catkidneyfailure
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« Reply #971 on: October 13, 2008, 09:53:11 AM » |
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European Commission disagrees with FDA melamine risk assessment: http://www.flex-news-food.com/pages/19706/China/European-Commission/Import/Milk/european-commission-submits-updated-measures-china-milk-products.htmlEuropean Commission Submits Updated Measures on China Milk Products Source: European Commission 13 Oct, 2008 - Last Friday, the European Commission discussed how to update the existing measures to respond to the melamine contaminated milk from China with the Member States. Daily News Alerts The set of reinforced measures discussed and agreed by Member States, will replace the interim measures provisionally adopted by the Commission on 26 September last (Decision 2008/757/EC). The new proposed measures update and supplement the measures adopted two weeks ago, which consisted of a ban on imports of products intended for the particular nutritional uses of infants or young children and of systematic checks on other composite products containing milk prior to import into the Community. Member States may also perform random checks on other products which, because of their high protein content, could have been subject to adulteration practices similar to those applied to the milk products, although there is at present no evidence that this has been the case. Whilst controls were, pursuant to Decision 2008/757/EC, limited to products containing at least 15% of milk products, Member States have been reporting significant difficulties in establishing the exact milk product content of a number of composite products targeted by the interim measures. The new proposed measures will streamline and simplify control tasks imposed on Member States by the interim measures adopted on 26 September. On the one hand such controls will have to be carried out on a limited number of control points specifically designated for that purpose by the Member States. On the other hand, Member States will not have to establish the exact amount of milk product content on imported products in order to decide whether analytical tests are required, as the new measures will require systematic checks on all milk containing products irrespective of the exact amount of such content. The measures shall be regularly reassessed in the light of the results of the controls carried out by the Member States. The proposed measures are currently being scrutinised by the European Parliament, and are expected to be adopted next Wednesday. |
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trudy1
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« Reply #972 on: October 13, 2008, 05:31:25 PM » |
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Thanks 3cat, Lt of good information.
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DMS
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« Reply #973 on: October 13, 2008, 05:32:25 PM » |
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Just FYI, I did go to a Tampa Target. There were still plenty of Archer Farms chocolate chips and Herseys as well. I will definitely keep an eye on the situation, the news, and for chocolate recalls or any other dairy related recalls.
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None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Poco
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« Reply #974 on: October 13, 2008, 05:33:07 PM » |
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Maybe at least we'll be able to count on EU products soon. Guess I'm lucky I'm somewhat allergic to milk so only eat dark chocolate, usually organic since chocolate is not the base of my food pyramind, much as I'd like it to be, and I figure I can afford to pay more. But if I had a bunch of chocolate-craving kids, I'd be in a bind. (Heck, I'd be homeless if they craved any safe nourishment the way things are getting.) I'm not finding anything to substantiate that Hershey rumor on that blog. Seems to be another candy company involved in the disputes over testing finding melamine in other countries. Hope that proves to be true since I get a better impression of Hershey as corporate citizen and would like to see my instincts pan out. Yale Global had an article on the overall contamination issue: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=11403China’s Image Sullied by Tainted Milk Putting profit and prestige over safety, China compounds the crisis with a cover-upMary Kay Magistad YaleGlobal, 1 October 2008 "BEIJING: The flag flew, the music surged, and state-run television was filled with triumphant images of the Beijing Olympics and the successful Shenzhou VII spacewalk, marking, on Oct. 1st, the Chinese Communist Party’s 49th anniversary in power. But if the party had hoped to spend the day basking in the adulation of the Chinese people and the admiration of the world, it hadn’t counted on the reverberations of a self-inflicted body blow to Brand China – the tainted milk scandal...." |
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