Sanlu Baby Milk Formula

“New Zealand’s Fonterra Farmer’s Cooperative, a joint venture partner holding 43 percent stock in Sanlu Group, found out about the contamination and reported to the group’s board August 2—six days before the Olympic Opening Ceremony—and requested more than once that Sanlu immediately recall the contaminated formula, but were denied by local Chinese authorities.”

~ While we were all marveling at the superb display of China at the Beijing 2008 games, China’s next generation were sacrifised. The buzz word around the world these days appears to be “change” – Obama loves it, now McCain follows – but some things never change… The Chinese high authoraties still have complete disregard for human/peasant life. To save face, to not marr the spectacular Olympic ceremony where China can be integrated with the rest of the developed world and showcase its extraordinary sportsmanship and ability to put up a show, it is worth the health and lives of the next generation.

Sanlu is mostly a peasant brand – known for its cheaper price and appealing to those lower income households, but yet commands a groping 18% market share. The story is that some milk farmers were unable to produce milk to the proteins standards set by the company, and to cut their losses, mixed Melamine into the fresh milk, an industrial chemical that can increase protein content but pose serious health risks to the kidneys and beyond. Perhaps it isnt such a prestigous brand, hey, noone important is drinking it, just some peasant children who likely won’t become anyone important anyway. Hey, they probably won’t die, just some complications that may haunt them for the rest of their lives.

I wonder if China will ever learn that sometimes owning up to your mistakes and limiting the everlasting harm is more effective way to “save face.”