Learning from China's milk scare
Would new regulations be enough to protect the world's consumers?
China’s tainted milk scandal should serve as a warning to the world, said the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in an editorial. “Because of global trading, there's no knowing where the tainted milk threat ends.” We clearly can’t rely on China for protection, and food trade has grown faster than any adequate system of international regulation.
Consumers need the tools to protect themselves, said the Los Angeles Times in an editorial. New U.S. laws will require “country of origin” labels on fresh meats and produce, but people need to know where ingredients in packaged and processed foods come from, too. “How can consumers send a message to this rogue food-producing nation if they don't know they're eating its food?”
Other countries should do more than sneer at China in “arrogant horror,” said Janet Bagnall in Montreal’s The Gazette. Milk-laced products in China have killed four babies and made more than 50,000 sick. But the death toll in Canada from listeria-tainted meat has reached 19. Maybe we should all get our houses in order.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Week contest: Swift stimulus
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'It's hard to resist a sweet deal on a good car'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 concert tours to see this winter
The Week Recommends Keep warm traveling the United States — and the world — to see these concerts
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published