Update on Melamine

Wow, it's been awhile since I last blogged, but there are so many things I want to write about!
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So I had dinner with my friends one night (this was around two weeks after the melamine issue was out) and we were talking about the issue. I know it sounds random that we talk about world issues during dinner, but instead of discussing how concerned we were about the situation- my friends were mocking how the situation is really magnified by the media.

Remember last week when I said candies such as the White Rabbit candies, Cradbury chocolate, and even M&Ms were affected? This morning I was watching the news during breakfast and they just announced that even the dimsum cakes you eat when you go yum cha contain melamine! However, I guess it isn't such a big of a deal because current studies have shown that you have to eat high dosages of foods that contain melamine to actually develop kidney stones. Take for example the White rabbit candies, this would mean that you have to eat 10 FULL PACKS to start developing kidney stones. Seriously, come on, I don't think anyone who's in the right mind would even do that. Similarly, many of the other foods that have been recalled have to be eaten in high dosages in-order to be poisoned. Personally, I think that melamine is toxic, but we do not need to eliminate every single food that is suspected of having this substance.
Four children have died and about 13,000 remain in hospital, 104 of them reportedly in a serious condition.
On Monday, Li Changjian, the minister in charge of product safety, resigned over the milk scandal as he is one of the culprits held responsible. His agency has admitted that Sanlu, the company responsible for poisoning nearly all the children, had been exempted from government product testing. I am amazed by how one decision made by the government can affect so many. So far, 12,892 children had been admitted to hospital, of which 104 were in a serious condition, while 39,965 had received outpatient "clinical treatment and advice'' and 4 babies have died. Seriosuly, I hope China has learned a big lesson through this problem. After this, I'm quite sure that everyone across the world has lost faith and confidence in China's manufactured products. Thinking back, it's not been the first time this has happened, and I wonder when China will seriously take these issues to heart and make change. Last year, there was a whole wave of food safety scandals that involved pet food, toothpaste, seafood and after that, the Chinese government did set stricter controls especially on foods that were going to be exported. What I think China really needs is a cultural shift. People need to move away from the mindset that things have to be produced quickly in great quantity with the cheapest methods. I hate to say it but I guess it is the Chinese mindset. People have to stop going for shortcuts and going for the shrot term benefits. Even though it might be costly and expensive, it eventually will pay off because it would benefits the people and themselves. I think we need a cultural shift in order for China to take it to the next level. People in China need to realize (themselves) what they are doing inorder for change to happen. This issue has caused the death of 4 babies and has affected the lives of 53000 children. If China doesn't tackle the problem sooner or later, in the long run, it will really hurt the Chinese economy(especially China's exports). I certainly hope this won't be an ongoing problem for China becuase I have beleive China is capable of doing better.

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On a lighter note, Halloween's coming soon, so are you guys still going to go trick-or-treating? Are you guys worried that you'll receive candy that is tainted with the toxic chemical? Maybe you guys should just throw away all the milk-related candices, then you'll be fine! :D