英闻天下——598 Mouth Watering or Health Killing

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　　But while "A Bite of China" has highlighted what people can eat, other TV news programs and other media sources here in China have been highlighting what NOT to eat here in China.

 

　　Food safety has been a continual media drum beat here in China through 2012.

 

　　Earlier in December, reports emerged of farms in China using prohibited drugs and additives¹ to feed chicken to speed up the growth process.

 

　　In November, a major alcohol producer called Jiugui Liquor had to suspend its packaging lines following reports its products were found to contain excessive levels of plasticizer.

 

　　Currently there are no national standard for the amount of plasticizer allowed in beverages².

 

　　And while the debate about the safety of liquor here in China drags on, one thing everyone can agree on is that out-of-date food is something that cannot be eaten or sold.

 

　　However, this didn't stop a McDonald's outlet³ in Beijing from selling out-of-date food and picking up beef dropped on floor for reuse in its meals.

 

　　In March, an undercover reporter recorded this conversation with an employee inside a McDonald's restaurant in the Sanlitun district of downtown Beijing.

 

　　- What, if any problems will there be if the beef gets dirty?

 

　　- What problems there will be? Nothing. All the bacteria dies after being fried.

 

　　Expired and dirty food, potentially poisonous liquor, dangerous chicken meat, toxic⁴ medicine capsules, gutter⁵ oil… China's TV screen have been dominated by news about various food safety scandals in 2012.

 

　　To that end, the government has been moving to try to fight food safety problems.

 

　　In June, the Chinese government released a five-year plan to upgrade its food safety regulations.

 

　　Shen Kui is the deputy director of Peking University's School of Law.

 

　　"Public management refers to food manufacturers, food retailers⁶ and consumers, as well as industry associations. In addition, non-profit organizations are key, as they are well suited to discovering food safety problems and revealing them. But of course, the government has to play a leading role in dealing⁷ with food safety concerns."

 

　　Food Safety experts have been recommending the government enhance food safety supervision⁸ by setting up a mechanism⁹ that covers the entire food chain.

 

　　Experts are also recommending a rigid¹⁰ food recall and destruction system for defective¹¹ products, on top of "severe penalties" for those who violate food safety laws.

 

　　Qiu Baochang is a lawyer with the China Consumers Association.

 

　　"Based on China's criminal code, people who add toxic or harmful substances into food can be given death penalty. However, it doesn't mean all food safety threats constitute crimes. Circumstances vary. But when it does constitute a crime, severe penalties should be handed down. But it's more than simply having laws. Other measures are also needed, including raising public awareness¹² about food safety."

 

　　China's Health ministry¹³ has published 88 new standards for food safety through 2012.

 

　　The government is also promising¹⁴ not to back-down in its fight for food safety in 2013.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Wan¹⁵.

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