Daily Lessons from Life 26 December 2011 - Toxin found in Chinese milk

"Toxin found in Chinese milk - AFP 26 December 2011

SHANGHAI: China has discovered excessive levels of a cancer-causing toxin in milk produced by one of the nation's leading dairy companies, the firm said, in the latest in a series of food safety alarms.

The government's quality watchdog found high levels of an aflatoxin, which is caused by mould, in milk produced by the Mengniu Dairy Group, the company said in a statement issued Sunday.

Mengniu said the milk, produced at one of its plants in the southwestern province of Sichuan, was tested before being sold so the contaminated milk never reached the market.

China is trying to crack down on product safety violations to reassure citizens and restore faith in the government after a series of high-profile scandals.

Milk was at the centre of China's biggest food safety scandal in 2008 when the industrial chemical melamine was found to have been illegally added to dairy products to give the appearance of higher protein content.

At least six babies died and another 300,000 became ill after drinking milk tainted with melamine.

Product safety problems have been found in goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to cooking oil. In September, the government arrested 32 people over the sale of cooking oil made from leftovers taken from gutters.

Aflatoxins can be found in milk after cows consume feed contaminated by mould and can increase the risk of cancer, including liver cancer, according to the World Health Organisation.

Mengniu said the products had been destroyed, and apologised to consumers.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine made the latest discovery in nationwide testing of 200 dairy products made by 128 companies, the agency said separately."

Hardly a month passed by without food safety issue taking headlines in China in recent years. So prevalent that the Chinese laughed at themselves by coining a saying: Any Chinese that is still alive are probably immune to poisons since they are subject to eating, drinking and consuming lots of poisions in their daily life!

That joke aside, they are some who swore that they will NOT consume Chinese milk and dairy products. They will go to the extent of getting them from overseas while making sure they do not have a 'Make in China' label!!

Lessons for me are:

1. at least in this case, the product reportedly never get to leave the factory. At least the quality inspection system put in place is working due to primarily the integrity of the people operating the system with the support of the company! Yes?;

2. also the State Quality Inspection personnel are taking their duties to the people seriously without being corrupted. The most powerful motivational is probably self-motivation here since many may have young babies that consume the products they are inspecting!! If so, that is wonderful. ONLY self-motivation will keep people COMMITTED to do the Right Things when ON ONE is watching!! That is the ONLY way to get rid of unscrupulous merchants and business people who put profit ahead of human safety and life!!;

3. this revelation and inspection effort will have to continue relentless until the 'risk takers' realized that it is NOT if I will get caught but WHEN I will get caught. And the 'when' must be 'sooner than you think'!! When the legal punishment befit the crimes committed - swiftly and decisively - will those who may be tempted to try their luck FROZE in their thought can this campaign for sustainable food safety be successful.

May Chinese food safety campaigners will the WAR soon...