Note To Self: Don't Apply For Top FDA Job In China

By: Michael Wuebben
Topics: In The News

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The Chinese government has taken the tough-on-corruption stand to its ultimate conclusion, sentencing to death the former head of the food and drug administration for taking bribes to approve substandard medicines. At least 10 deaths have been linked to the scandal. According to The Associated Press:

The developments are among the most dramatic steps Beijing has publicly taken to address domestic and international alarm over shoddy and unsafe Chinese goods — from pet food ingredients and toothpaste mixed with industrial chemicals to tainted antibiotics.

Some more scary stats from the AP report:

Food safety is a serious problem across the vast country, with China's Health Ministry reporting almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005. Spoiled food accounted for the largest number, followed by poisonous plants or animals and use of agricultural chemicals.

According to the official magazine Outlook Weekly, a survey by the quality inspection administration found that a third of China's 450,000 food producers had no licenses, and 60 percent did not conduct safety tests or have the capability to do so.

And we're importing pet food ingredients from them?