Saying They’re Making Us Safer, While Actually Making Us Less Safe
Sound familiar??
Last week President Bush announced a new cabinet level committee charged with studying the import safety crisis and making recommendations within 60 days, according to USA Today.
“The American people expect their government to work tirelessly to make sure consumer products are safe,” Bush said after the first meeting.
Yes, but we can’t possibly expect them […]
Popularity: 91% [?]
Just a PR Move or Real Change in China?
It’s too soon to tell. But CNN reports that a new food safety team is being formed by top Chinese government officials to tackle the nation’s safety and quality problems. The recent scandals involving poison ingredients in pet food, deadly chemicals in cough medicine, antibiotics in seafood, and more, have damaged China’s reputation with consumers in the U.S. […]
Popularity: 31% [?]
Next Time Let’s Sting the Food & Drug Counterfeiters
Today the New York Times reported that a joint sting operation by the FBI and the Chinese government has led to the bust of a sophisticated software piracy outfit in China. Hundreds of millions of dollars in counterfeit Microsoft software were seized and 25 people were arrested.
David Finn, an associate general counsel at Microsoft, credits […]
Popularity: 36% [?]
Something China is Doing Right
The New York Times travel section recently ran an article about Wulingyuan National Park in China, designated by UNESCO as a GeoPark, and although this doesn’t appear to be immediately germane to the topic of this blog, I think it proves a very important point: The Chinese government does have the capability to manage an incredible […]
Popularity: 17% [?]
Dangerous Drugs Lead to More Than One Death Sentence
According to the New York Times, Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of China’s equivalent of the FDA who was recently executed for accepting bribes and allowing dangerous products to enter the Chinese marketplace, started out as a reformer but succumbed to temptation and accepted money and gifts from unethical manufacturers seeking a way around safety regulations. […]
Popularity: 26% [?]
Don’t Order the Fish
Unless you don’t mind eating decayed flesh, carbon monoxide, mercury, antibiotics, feces and God knows what else along with it.
The New York Times today reported on testimony before a House subcommittee elaborating how weak the FDA is, and how it may get even weaker. The FDA currently only inspects about 1% of the food imports coming […]
Popularity: 25% [?]
Get Your Mojo Working
At its core this blog is about where the responsibility for safety lies. It lies with the federal government and the agencies designed to protect us from dangers we are not individually equipped to protect ourselves from. It lies with companies who provide goods — they must be held to a high standard and do the right thing for their customers. And […]
Popularity: 31% [?]
New Labor Reforms in China Despite American Efforts
The New York Times reports that labor reforms have passed in China despite strong opposition by American companies.
While the new law will do little to eliminate violations of existing laws, it does require that employers treat migrant workers as they do other employees. All employees will have to have written employment contracts that comply with […]
Popularity: 17% [?]
You Get What You Pay For
In the midst of a slew of stories of product recalls and dangerous goods coming from China, USA Today reports that China’s trade surplus is at an all time high. The imports are pouring in faster than ever and the safety checks are not keeping pace, yet we continue to buy. And the reason, naturally, is […]
Popularity: 36% [?]
More Deadly Magnetic Toys
More than a year after the first recall of Magnetix toys which came about as the result of the death of 22-month old Kenny Sweet of Washington and serious internal injuries to dozens of other children, Mag Stix toys were (and probably still are at this writing) available on store shelves. Mag Stix are very similar to Magnetix in concept […]
Popularity: 23% [?]
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