General Discussions

**Learning Newbie** · 07-10-2007, 12:27 PM

Today China executed the head of it's Food and Drug Administration for taking bribes totaling about $800,000 USD. That's the official reason anyway, the charge that's been filed again him that he's been convicted of. Besides dog food and tooth paste, the guy also gave his seal of approval to fake drugs, antibiotics and others, that have lead to at least 15 deaths.

Do you think the sentence is too harsh? Do you think it'll put an end to the kinds of tainted products we read and hear about every day lately? Do you trust food or medicine from China?

**wiz241** · 07-10-2007, 12:49 PM

At first glance it would seem to harsh, but then you see the 15 deaths that resulted and maybe it does seem to be about the right punishment. Of course, then again, this also depends upon your view of capital punishment as a whole.

**pigbait75** · 07-10-2007, 03:18 PM

china is supposed to be the BEST place to get food and medicine, and this is why you kill the people the people kill you.

**ADAM Web Design** · 07-10-2007, 07:00 PM

I've always felt capital punishment should only be meted out in circumstances where multiple separate trials conducted independently and on their own merits found the same individual guilty of a capital offense (see California's "Three Strikes and You're Out" policy).

If the head of the Chinese FDA were tried for all 15 deaths simultaneously, the possibility exists that the person is innocent. If all 15 deaths were tried separately and each case was tried on its own merits (not likely, but a possibility), then we should abide by the law in Toby Keith's "Beer for My Horses":

Quote:

Take all the rope in Texas
Find a tall oak tree
Round up all of them bad boys
Hang 'em high in the street
For all the people to see

Then again, I don't have a lot of faith in humankind, so maybe I'm a bit negative on the subject.

**BreaktheSilence** · 07-10-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Today China executed the head of it's Food and Drug Administration for taking bribes totaling about $800,000 USD... Do you think the sentence is too harsh?

Who's to say...?

China obviously has their own way of doing things, which more often than not, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to a Western mind. In other words, what may seem harsh to you or I, isn't necessarily harsh within a different cultural context.

All I can say for sure, is that if it had happened here, the guy would have spent the next few years in the legal system, with appeal after appeal after appeal... Next thing you know, his wife would be crying on Larry King and he'd probably end up with a big fat book deal. Maybe even a presidential pardon...

I'm not saying the Chinese method is right or wrong, just tidy is all.

**psylocke** · 07-11-2007, 07:03 AM

China is known for their medicine and this news affect their country so much.. well i think he deserves that kind of punishment, what he did was the caused of death of 15 people.. he knows that fake medicines can kill people.

**Michelle Ü** · 07-11-2007, 12:23 PM

in some point it's just right...imagine how many years he's been doing that? and how many people have already taken in meds that are fake?

**Learning Newbie** · 07-12-2007, 02:16 PM

Do people think food products from China are safe? Sorry, I think I'm going to write a blog post about this whole debacle, and I was hoping to see how much people are interested in the subject.

**goheadtry** · 07-12-2007, 08:38 PM

I think if you know the rules and you break the rules you should be responsible I also think the United States and other places should not comment on this country's cultural beliefs and judge them about how things should be done in a Country that is not your country and a culture that is not your culture the man is technically a murderer because, his actions resulted in others deaths.

**seolman** · 01:28 AM

What a cultural can of worms you've opened John!

Life for the poor in China is cheap - but it has even less value for someone who embarrasses the government. They make examples out of people who are foolish enough to expose the system of corruption by being sloppy and getting caught. This was simply a great opportunity for the government to show how righteous it is. You can bet this was carried on all major Chinese networks, "government executes corrupt criminal" etc. Good thing the government is there to protect the public from such losers.

As regards products from China - I don't trust products from any country. When I was living in Sri Lanka I could by products containing DDT (banned in all sane western countries). After these products were banned by major powers for their adverse affects on the human body, large corporations decided to dump their excess stock in third world countries where no such laws existed. Most of these products came from Europe, but many major corps in all nations engage in this sad practice.

I am a bit shocked China would try sending tainted products to the US or Europe - typically these types of products are sent to countries without the budget to test incoming products for contaminants...

**psylocke** · 07-13-2007, 05:56 AM

another latest news from china:

Chinese' Steam Buns Made from Cardboard!!

Steamed buns sold in Beijing contain 60 percent cardboard, a report on China Central Television said.

The report, aired late Wednesday on China Central Television, highlights the country's problems with food safety despite government efforts to improve the situation.

Countless small, often illegally run operations exist across China and make money cutting corners by using inexpensive ingredients or unsavory substitutes. They are almost impossible to regulate.

State TV's undercover investigation features the shirtless, shorts-clad maker of the buns, called baozi, explaining the contents of the product sold in Beijing's sprawling Chaoyang district.

Baozi are a common snack in China, with an outer skin made from wheat or rice flour and a filling of sliced pork. Cooked by steaming in immense bamboo baskets, they are similar to but usually much bigger than the dumplings found on dim sum menus familiar to many Americans.

The hidden camera follows the man, whose face is not shown, into a ramshackle building where steamers are filled with the fluffy white buns, traditionally stuffed with minced pork.

The surroundings are filthy, with water puddles and piles of old furniture and cardboard on the ground.

"What's in the recipe?" the reporter asks. "Six to four," the man says.

"You mean 60 percent cardboard? What is the other 40 percent?" asks the reporter. "Fatty meat," the man replies.

The bun maker and his assistants then give a demonstration on how the product is made.

Squares of cardboard picked from the ground are first soaked to a pulp in a plastic basin of caustic soda -- a chemical base commonly used in manufacturing paper and soap -- then chopped into tiny morsels with a cleaver. Fatty pork and powdered seasoning are stirred in.

Soon, steaming servings of the buns appear on the screen. The reporter takes a bite.

"This baozi filling is kind of tough. Not much taste," he says. "Can other people taste the difference?"

"Most people can't. It fools the average person," the maker says.

**potchie** · 07-13-2007, 07:25 AM

me, i dont trust any product from CHINA, China is known to be and immitation Country..

**Learning Newbie** · 07-13-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psylocke

China is known for their medicine and this news affect their country so much.. well i think he deserves that kind of punishment, what he did was the caused of death of 15 people.. he knows that fake medicines can kill people.

I think as sad as this news is - and I mean sad that 15 people died from taking fake antibiotic medicine, at least 15 that we know about - it's a good opportunity for us to all stop and reflect.

This teaches us that corporate crime is violent crime.

**Aadriyah** · 07-13-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potchie

me, i dont trust any product from CHINA, China is known to be and immitation Country..

makes sense mate but they have all the raw materials to do so.. they ar rich when it comes to resources