Daily Lesson from Life 19 September 2008

"S'pore bans import of all milk and dairy from China Besides Yili yoghurt bar, melamine also found in Dutch Lady strawberry milk. -Fri, Sep 19, 2008 Reuters, AFP

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Friday that they have banned the import and sale of all milk and dairy products from China with immediate effect after tests found melamine contamination in two brands of China-made milk products.

The chemical was found in two samples of Yili Brand Choice Dairy Fruit Bar Yogurt Flavoured Ice Confection, and also in the Dutch Lady brand of strawberry flavoured milk manufactured in China

As a precautionary measure, AVA is also suspending the import and sale of all milk and milk products from China with immediate effect.

In China, 6,244 children have become ill, with four dead and 158 suffering acute kidney failure after consuming milk powder tainted with melamine, a banned chemical used in making plastics."

It is beginning to look like a big deal of China-made product failing safety standard 'deliberately'! It is very disturbing as the notices from New Zealand informing the manufacturer of the issue were ignored. The Kiwi went on to inform the Hebei provincial government that also solicited silence. The Kiwi then supposedly wrote or contacted someone of the Prime Minister-level contact in the Chinese government before the issue finally get investigated!!

I guessed we are just being lucky or we do not know we had been poisoned yet since we do consume a lot of products that are made in China - directly or indirectly.

Lessons for me are:

1. on the road of prosperity where making-money-at-all-cost is the mantra, we are courting disaster!;

2. when people in leadership position choose to look the other way when issues were raised must be punished severely so that those that come after know they cannot neglect their responsibilities forever. That the punishment shall fit the crimes!;

3. there will always be people who are brave and righteous enough to expose long orchestrated cover-up as not everyone will put money before principle. There will always be people who spoke up against oppression!

How will the Chinese people respond to this disaster? It is their babies and babies from other countries that are poisoned! Will the consumer revolt and set the records right? Will this scandal spread to other products?

May the world be a safer place for all of us to consume!