Mattel’s Sorry Apology
Mattel’s very public, highly staged apology to China (yes, the whole nation) has garnered a lot of media attention, with reports calling the move “astonishing” and “extraordinary.” According to the Associated Press:
The world’s largest toy maker sent a top executive to personally apologize to China’s product safety chief, Li Changjang, as reporters and company lawyers […]
Popularity: 50% [?]
Mattel’s Image Tarnished by Lead Paint
Just days after the New York Times ran a story about Mattel, the world’s largest toy company, setting the “gold standard” for manufacturing in China, Mattel announced the recall of nearly a million toys due to the presence of lead paint. The recall included 83 different products made under the Fisher-Price name and based on popular Sesame Street […]
Popularity: 66% [?]
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% [?]
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% [?]
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