Washington – Federal health officials Thursday slapped a sweeping detention order on dozens of imported foods from China, from snacks and drinks to chocolates and candies.
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It’s unusual for the Food and Drug Administration to put such a broad hold on goods from an entire country, not just a few rogue manufacturers. The agency said the action was needed as a precaution to keep out foods contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, which can cause serious kidney problems.
“The problem of melamine contamination in Chinese food products is a recurring one,” said the FDA order, posted on the Internet. Under the directive, FDA inspectors can hold foods made with milk ingredients at ports of entry until independent tests show they are melamine-free. The order also applies to pet foods and some bulk protein products.
Essentially, the FDA action shifts the burden of proof to Chinese companies, which must now supply evidence that their products are safe.
Unscrupulous companies in China have routinely watered down milk, then added melamine to artificially boost protein readings on quality tests. The practice became known after the Beijing Olympics this summer. It backfired when tens of thousands of Chinese children got sick with kidney problems after drinking contaminated infant formula. Nearly 13,000 children were hospitalized in China, and at least four died.
Other melamine-tainted products soon surfaced, setting off a global safety scandal that has further tarnished the reputation of Chinese brands.
The U.S. does not import milk or infant formula from China, and no illnesses have been reported here. But authorities from California to Connecticut have found melamine-contaminated candies and drinks during inspections at Asian groceries. Thursday’s FDA order widens a directive from last month authorizing inspectors to detain goods from 10 Chinese companies.
“The problem of melamine contamination (in China) is not limited to infant formula products,” said the FDA order. “Chinese government sources indicate contamination of milk components, especially dried milk powder, which are used in a variety of finished foods. These contaminated milk components appear to have been dispersed throughout the Chinese food supply chain.”
The melamine scandal is now weeks old, but FDA officials said it has taken that long to comply with legal requirements that detention orders be scrupulously backed by evidence. A national poll released earlier this week by Consumers Union found that the public wants foreign food-producing facilities inspected as frequently as domestic ones: about once a month. The FDA has nowhere near the number of inspectors to fulfill that desire, and instead mainly relies on U.S. food companies to require that their foreign supplier maintain high standards.
With so many Kashrus problems, it’s about time
bh . they should halt all canned goods too.
Its about time the USA stops the imports of goods from China UNTIL – we have proof that CHINA buys from us as well.
Trade has to go on a 2 way street, why should we import everything from China while our manufacturers cant sell them nothing.
China is a growing economy, the USA is becoming like China – I think in a few years our wages here will be lower then the chineese – its going to happen, because they are growing – by selling to us and copying all our goods for less – while the good old America which is paved with gold, is seen closing up factories every single day – what a shame.
they should halt all nosh from usa….will save loads of diabetic kids
There should be a tarriff on all goods from China and all goods that are copied illegally and sold as if they were made by the real manufacturer should be banned. We should buy ‘made in USA’ (or Israel) and help our fellow citizens earn a living.The Chinese use slave labor and illegal raw materials in their goods.They print their own kosher labels on their products. We must help support the country we live in for our own good.
Its about time! Im sick and tired of fighting with my kids every Shabbos over the junk they consume!
Is the chemical kosher? If yes which hashgacha ? I think we have to investigate
Chinese do not value life. They don’t care if a few thousand or more people die because of food contamination. They do not believe in Our Hashem, but, in Avodah Zara. We shouldn’t do busines with them at all.
If each of you would stop queezing your food companies every time they raise a product 5 cents, they’d be HAPPY to keep manufacturing here. No one WANTS to work in China, they need to to give you your products cheap.
Chinese (frum) frozen tilapia – $4/lb. Ecuador tilapia $6/lb. You make the call…
It almost certainly does not include kosher products because the problem is with milk and dried milk powder- which is not found in kosher nosh or kosher canned veggies
The FDA should require EVERYTHING coming from China to write in BIG BOLD lettering MADE IN CHINA or GROWN IN CHINA!!!
Melamine is an ingredient in plastic. It happens to have similar chemical characteristics as milk which is why it is almost undetectable.
I think the best thing to do is tell the chinks that we are no longer importing food products from them until we see they could behave themselves. I dont see why we cant put these commies in their place.