The powdered milk products, produced by the Sanlu Group in China, were found to be contaminated by melamine after hundreds of babies in China got sick with kidney stones. One baby in the Gansu province, China, died because of that.
25 tons of powered milk products manufactured by the Sanlu Group were exported to Taiwan this August, and this news caused extensive panic in Taiwan.
Sinhong talked about how late people were informed by the China government about the powdered milk contamination.
This March in China, there were rumors that babies were sick due to contaminated powdered milk. There were formal case reports from hospital this June, and the contaminated powdered milk was exported to Taiwan around that time. In the beginning of this August, the Sanlu group found there was melamine in their powdered milk products. However, the Sanlu Group deferred to recall these contaminated powdered milk until September 11st, and the China government informed Taiwan officials in September 12nd.Eric further criticized how Taiwan government ignored the warning and acted slowly.
This is a very serious issue concerning human life, but the Strait Exchange Foundation was touched by the China government's “good will,” and our government decided to shut up. Later after they found the situation out of their control, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan finally decided to hold an inter-departmental meeting. The reaction nerve of our government seems to be totally numbed and the reason was most probably due to the fear of spoiling the “cherished” Taiwan-China relationship after President Ma Ying-jeou sworn into office this May… and they cannot even protect our fellow countrymen.Sinhong also talked about the possibility that the China government covered this scandal because of the Olympic Games this August.
This cover-up of contaminated powdered milk scandal cannot not be separated from the Olympic Games in Beijing. The Olympic Games was from 8/8 to 8/24. Before the Olympic Games, China government gave orders to cover all the reports that might destroy the image of China. The Sanlu Group discovered the contamination just before the Olympic Games, and we can see the China government chose to let their people die so that they can keep the positive image of China. However, this cover-up not only affects its people's lives, it further threatens people in other countries, such authoritarian attitude towards people's lives is absolutely not tolerable!The Sanlu Group claimed that the melamine found in their powdered milk was added by the dairy farmers and milk dealers to meet the nitrogen standard after they added water to dilute the milk. However, not everyone believes their claim.
Eric reasoned based on the milk powder production process.
Who decided to add melamine to increase nitrogen detection in the powdered milk must be professional as it requires chemical knowledge, so I do not believe that melamine was added by the diary farmers.Williamlong also reasoned based on the chemical property of melamine.
Melamine is only slightly soluble in water, so how could the diary farmers add melamine to the milk? If they really added melamine to their milk, melamine would be separated from the milk. As a result, I believe melamine was added to the milk powder directly after the company processed the milk.Lianyue, who is a Chinese, appealed to China government for taking this scandal seriously, finding the real problems, and solving the problems.
If the China government does not investigate all people involved,…China's diary industry will fall down. The Sanlu Group is one of China's leading dairy producers, when they added toxic substances in their products, people will think all other producers in China might do the same. If the Sanlu Group wants to protect itself and claims that adding melamine is an open secret in this industry, the whole diary industry in China will fall into crisis…China's food industry will fall down, too. If the companies and the China government do not bother to poison the children, what is their baseline in the poisoning industry? Pets, teenagers, adults…. “Made in China” is already notorious because of the toxic substances in China's products. If the Sanlu Group survive this time, we will wait and see how the Sanlu Group hits the last coffin nail for China.There was also rumor saying that Baidu took money from the Sanlu Group and helped them filter opinions harmful to the company when people search on Baidu. t4822k11b said,
The crisis management plan of the Sanlu Group was uncovered by its own employee. This crisis management plan suggested to give Baidu three million and ask Baidu to filter the news…Baidu's public relations executive said, “if you search on Baidu, you can find past news, harmful or not to the Sanlu Group. This is the best proof.”…However, after investigating, we can see that those news harmful to the Sanlu Group started to appear after 9/12. If you key in “Sanlu, do not act in dealing with our children's health”and search, in 9/12 afternoon, google shows 11400 links while Baidu only shows 11 links. In 9/13 morning, google shows 11800 links and Baidu shows 54 links, which increased quickly.
2008年9月19日
The Results of Sanlu Milk incident Responsiblility
Four local officials in north China's Hebei Province were fired on Tuesday following the baby milk powder scandal across the country.
Zhang Fawang, vice mayor in charge of agricultural production of Hebei provincial capital Shijiazhuang, and Sun Renhu, the city's animal husbandry administration chief, were fired late Tuesday following legal procedures, according to a decision made by the city's legislative body.
Shijiazhuang Food and Drug Administration Bureau director ZhangYi and the city's Quality and Technical Inspection Bureau chief LiZhiguo were also dismissed from their posts for loose supervision on the milk suppliers.
Tian Wenhua, the board chairwoman and general manager of Shijiazhuang-based dairy giant Sanlu Group, was also fired from her posts. She was also removed from her post as the secretary of the corporation committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to Party authorities of Hebei Province an Shijiazhuang City.
An estimated 1,253 infants, including two fatally, across the country developed kidney stones after drinking Sanlu's baby formula tainted by melamine, a chemical believed to help increase the protein content in the milk.
However, the contamination has spread to other dairy companies as the country's top quality watchdog said Tuesday they found the chemical melamine in 69 batches of baby milk powder produced by 22companies nationwide.
The authorities ordered a halt to the sale of the tainted products which included such well-known brands as Mengniu, Yili and Yashili, among others.
Gao Qiang, the Communist Party chief of the Ministry of Health, visited baby patients in Hebei on Tuesday. The province alone has reported a total of 861 infants suffering urinary system stones, with 61 of them hospitalized. http://www.rr365.com/
Gao, also head of the emergency team for handling Sanlu tainted milk, ordered timely and effective diagnosis and treatment for infants sickened by the contaminated milk.
Experts should be organized to go to remote rural areas to check the sick infants and urge them to be sent to hospitals for diagnosis and treatment, he said while visiting sick babies and medical staff in Hebei People's Hospital and Hebei Children's Hospital.
According to the ministry, the two deaths occurred both in the northwest Gansu Province. They were a five-month-old boy who died on May 1 after his family refused further treatment and an eight-month-old girl whose family also refused an operation and removed her from hospital on July 22 on which day she died. Both of the two were bred with the Sanlu formula and suffered kidney failure.
Zhang Zhenling, Sanlu's vice president, apologized to the public on Monday.
"The serious safety accident of the Sanlu formula milk powder for infants has caused severe harm to many sickened babies and their families. We feel really sad about this," he said while reading a letter of apology to reporters.
Sanlu, which is 43 percent owned by New Zealand dairy company Fonterra, has been ordered to halt production. The Hebei provincial government decided on Tuesday to dispatch four working teams to Sanlu Group for a thorough investigation.
Zhang Fawang, vice mayor in charge of agricultural production of Hebei provincial capital Shijiazhuang, and Sun Renhu, the city's animal husbandry administration chief, were fired late Tuesday following legal procedures, according to a decision made by the city's legislative body.
Shijiazhuang Food and Drug Administration Bureau director ZhangYi and the city's Quality and Technical Inspection Bureau chief LiZhiguo were also dismissed from their posts for loose supervision on the milk suppliers.
Tian Wenhua, the board chairwoman and general manager of Shijiazhuang-based dairy giant Sanlu Group, was also fired from her posts. She was also removed from her post as the secretary of the corporation committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to Party authorities of Hebei Province an Shijiazhuang City.
An estimated 1,253 infants, including two fatally, across the country developed kidney stones after drinking Sanlu's baby formula tainted by melamine, a chemical believed to help increase the protein content in the milk.
However, the contamination has spread to other dairy companies as the country's top quality watchdog said Tuesday they found the chemical melamine in 69 batches of baby milk powder produced by 22companies nationwide.
The authorities ordered a halt to the sale of the tainted products which included such well-known brands as Mengniu, Yili and Yashili, among others.
Gao Qiang, the Communist Party chief of the Ministry of Health, visited baby patients in Hebei on Tuesday. The province alone has reported a total of 861 infants suffering urinary system stones, with 61 of them hospitalized. http://www.rr365.com/
Gao, also head of the emergency team for handling Sanlu tainted milk, ordered timely and effective diagnosis and treatment for infants sickened by the contaminated milk.
Experts should be organized to go to remote rural areas to check the sick infants and urge them to be sent to hospitals for diagnosis and treatment, he said while visiting sick babies and medical staff in Hebei People's Hospital and Hebei Children's Hospital.
According to the ministry, the two deaths occurred both in the northwest Gansu Province. They were a five-month-old boy who died on May 1 after his family refused further treatment and an eight-month-old girl whose family also refused an operation and removed her from hospital on July 22 on which day she died. Both of the two were bred with the Sanlu formula and suffered kidney failure.
Zhang Zhenling, Sanlu's vice president, apologized to the public on Monday.
"The serious safety accident of the Sanlu formula milk powder for infants has caused severe harm to many sickened babies and their families. We feel really sad about this," he said while reading a letter of apology to reporters.
Sanlu, which is 43 percent owned by New Zealand dairy company Fonterra, has been ordered to halt production. The Hebei provincial government decided on Tuesday to dispatch four working teams to Sanlu Group for a thorough investigation.
2008年9月10日
Healthy Asian Cuisine?
Look at what's on the menu. Asian cuisines, just like all other styles of cuisine around the world, have their share of low fat and high fat recipes, low sodium and high-salt dishes and sauces, and dishes that are good for satisfying appetite but low in calories and vice versa. Take for instance, curries: Many traditional curries use coconut milk, which is high in saturated fats, but other alternatives exist. For example Assam (tamarind)-based curries and soups, tom yam dishes prepared without coconut milk, and dhall curries all provide the spicy 'oomph' without the accompanying calories or saturated fat.
Rice, the Asian staple, can also be another calorie pitfall. The usual form served is white rice, which has very much less fibre and vitamins that the brown version served only in specialty restaurants. Also, some rice varieties satisfy appetite for longer than others. However, steamed white rice is generally a better choice than fried rice, briyani and other specialty rice like nasi minyak (oil rice), or rice cooked in butter or ghee. Even chicken rice, a Malaysian and Singaporean favourite, may have hidden calories, for example if the rice is cooked in butter.
Noodles, a breakfast and lunch favourite, usually comes either in soup or "dry" form. The clear, broth-based soups are generally lower in oil and sodium than dry noodles, so if noodles are your favourite, be sure to choose the types with lower oil and sodium some of the time.
However, there are plenty of caterers' cooking methods that meet with nutritionists' approval. A classic meal in Asia, consisting of rice, vegetables and some meat or seafood fits the healthy eating recommendations of complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre, lots of fruits and vegetables, limited saturated fats and protein - if you choose the right cooking style.
When it comes to vegetables, Asians are spoilt for choice in the variety of styles vegetables can be cooked in. Steamed, stir-fried, poached, boiled in soups, cooked in curries - vegetables from Asia are often packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals without sacrificing taste and flavour. Make vegetables the mainstay of your meal out and you will not go wrong.
Baked seafood - fish, shrimp, calamari – are other good options for the Asia region. Marinated in spices and wrapped in banana leaves, baked or grilled seafood is a low-fat but flavourful option to fried or deep-fried versions and also a good source of "good" fats. Other healthy and 'yummy' options are grilled meats, barbecued or steamed fish or chicken and stir-fried beef. Just be careful of the rich sauces that are often served with these meats, as they may be heavy in oil or salt.
Finish up a meal by taking advantage of the huge variety of tropical fruits available. Many fruits in Asia are good sources of vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting phytochemicals and are an enjoyable way to ensure you get your daily 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables. In addition, fruits are a lower calorie alternative to desserts as a sweet end to a meal.
Rice, the Asian staple, can also be another calorie pitfall. The usual form served is white rice, which has very much less fibre and vitamins that the brown version served only in specialty restaurants. Also, some rice varieties satisfy appetite for longer than others. However, steamed white rice is generally a better choice than fried rice, briyani and other specialty rice like nasi minyak (oil rice), or rice cooked in butter or ghee. Even chicken rice, a Malaysian and Singaporean favourite, may have hidden calories, for example if the rice is cooked in butter.
Noodles, a breakfast and lunch favourite, usually comes either in soup or "dry" form. The clear, broth-based soups are generally lower in oil and sodium than dry noodles, so if noodles are your favourite, be sure to choose the types with lower oil and sodium some of the time.
However, there are plenty of caterers' cooking methods that meet with nutritionists' approval. A classic meal in Asia, consisting of rice, vegetables and some meat or seafood fits the healthy eating recommendations of complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre, lots of fruits and vegetables, limited saturated fats and protein - if you choose the right cooking style.
When it comes to vegetables, Asians are spoilt for choice in the variety of styles vegetables can be cooked in. Steamed, stir-fried, poached, boiled in soups, cooked in curries - vegetables from Asia are often packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals without sacrificing taste and flavour. Make vegetables the mainstay of your meal out and you will not go wrong.
Baked seafood - fish, shrimp, calamari – are other good options for the Asia region. Marinated in spices and wrapped in banana leaves, baked or grilled seafood is a low-fat but flavourful option to fried or deep-fried versions and also a good source of "good" fats. Other healthy and 'yummy' options are grilled meats, barbecued or steamed fish or chicken and stir-fried beef. Just be careful of the rich sauces that are often served with these meats, as they may be heavy in oil or salt.
Finish up a meal by taking advantage of the huge variety of tropical fruits available. Many fruits in Asia are good sources of vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting phytochemicals and are an enjoyable way to ensure you get your daily 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables. In addition, fruits are a lower calorie alternative to desserts as a sweet end to a meal.
Eating Out the Healthier Way
Breakfast at a coffee shop, lunch at a burger joint, dinner from a noodle stall. If this describes your typical weekday meal plan, you are one of millions across Asia who are now eating more and more meals out of home. After all, most of us spend a sizeable part of the day away from home so it's inevitable that we eat out as well.
Eating out is very much an Asian phenomenon, with street food sellers (called hawkers in some countries) selling everything from local burgers to traditional noodle-based fare forming an essential part of the Asian food landscape; in addition to stand-alone restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world. International fast-food chains have also become popular, and offer a quick and hygienic option for people on the more.
Eating out need not be a guilty or unhealthy experience. Practising the same guidelines as home-cooked meals would ensure that eating out provides the same kind of nutritional benefits. Besides, eating out does have its advantages: it takes a lot less time and hassle (no need to prepare and wash up afterwards) and one is more likely to savour foods from other ethnic groups or cuisines while eating out. In addition, eating out exposes one to a rich variety of foods - a key recommendation for good nutrition; something those of us with limited cooking skills may not be able to adhere to at home!
Safety First
Nevertheless, there are pitfalls to avoid in eating out. In Asia, especially in developing countries, some street food and eateries hygiene standards are a little dubious. Food sold on side-walks may be at risk of being contaminated by dust and other pollutants.
Furthermore if eateries do not have access to clean water for washing, microbes that cause food poisoning may contaminate food. Also, unless the seller keeps a chiller on-site, raw cooking ingredients like meat and seafood may be breeding grounds for microbes - especially if they are not cooked thoroughly.
Therefore, the first rule to eating out healthily and safely is to be choosy about the outlet. Avoid eating in places where cleanliness is suspect. The stall's location, the food preparer's cleaning habits as well as his/her overall hygiene should give an indication of the safety of the food. Good food hygiene standards are being achieved, by many, and one of the benefits of globalisation, is global food hygiene standards using systems like HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). Comprehensive and mandatory training for food handlers in Good Hygiene Practises are also becoming increasingly common. Nevertheless, personal vigilance is always prudent, so remember always to look out for tell-tale signs like food that has been left warm too long, food that is left uncovered, etc.
Watch the Oil and Salt
Some ready-to-eat foods have more oil, salt and sugar than home-cooked food. Oil and salt could also be hidden in sauces, dressings and condiments. For example, the low-fat nature of Japanese meals is certainly a health bonus, but the soy sauce served with many dishes is high in sodium. To ease up on these, ask for the dressing or sauces to be served on the side and use them sparingly.
Other healthy alternatives could include using low-calorie or low sodium alternatives. Add cut chillies without dousing them with soy sauce, or add only one or two drops. Use mustard and ketchup instead of mayonnaise on burgers and sandwiches, and pepper or lemon juice instead of salt.
Substitute Your Choices
Sometimes eating healthier requires some substitution work. Ask for less oil or salt in your food. Instead of doubling your meat portions, ask for more vegetables instead when ordering noodles or rice. Request wholewheat instead of white bread in your sandwiches, low-fat milk in your beverages and baked jacket potatoes, salads or steamed vegetables instead of fries.
Instead of pizza with plenty of pepperoni and cheese, order instead a veggie pizza with additional vegetable toppings. Pizzas with a thin crust (instead of the traditional thick crust) also good for cutting calories.
Cut down on the calories at fast-food restaurants with low-fat milk shakes (which are a great source of calcium), 100% juices, bottled water, sugar-free black, green or oolong teas, or diet soft drinks instead of regular soft drinks. Fish or chicken burgers or 100% ground beef patties without extra toppings will all help to keep calorie intake down.
Mind the Portion Size
A common problem with eating out is a greater temptation to eat more than one would at home. Large extra-value portion sizes can seem tempting because of cost savings, but opting for the bigger portion size can lead to eating more than is necessary to satisfy appetite, and ordering a larger fries or drink could add as much as 25% more fat and calories to your meal.
As well as matching your order to your appetite, be very aware when enjoying your meal, of how much you are eating. Pay attention to the food and your hunger levels and most of all take a little time to enjoy your food, and for your body to signal when your hunger is beginning to be satisfied. If you find the meal or snack you are eating is larger than you need, consider sharing with a friend, or request a take-out box and eat it for lunch the next day, or just leave the last few mouthfuls. Depsite what parents may have told you in childhood, it really is OK not to finish everything on the plate or in a carton!
The Bottom Line
Eating out is a way of life in Asia, and can be a wonderful pleasure. 'Splurging' on less healthful foods occasionally is not a problem but as eating out becomes the norm rather than the exception, it helps to plan in advance and be aware of the options out there. Being aware of the eatery's hygiene, making the right choices, keeping portions in check and going for a wide variety of foods will ensure eating out, even on a regular basis, becomes a convenient, healthy and enjoyable experience!
| Here are some healthier options when eating out | ||
| Choose More Often | Choose Less Often | |
| Chinese | Steamed white rice or if available, brown rice. Steamed, roasted, poached, boiled, barbecued, grilled, stir-fried dishes. Soup noodles, assam--based dishes, steamed yong tau foo, dim sum | Fried rice/noodles, butter rice, deep-fried dishes, stewed meats with a lot of oil, curries with coconut milk, "dry" noodles |
| Indian | Steamed rice, plain thosai, chapatti, dhall curries, tandoori and tikka dishes, vegetarian dishes | Briyani, roti canai, naan, papadams, curries with coconut milk, korma, deep-fried dishes, samosas |
| Thai/Malay | Steamed rice, tom-yam soups, plain spring rolls, vegetable salads, kerabu, stir-fried, grilled, roasted, steamed dishes, satay, kebabs, fresh fruits | Fried rice/noodles, nasi lemak, curries with coconut milk, deep-fried foods, desserts with coconut milk, curry puffs, deep-fried meats and seafood doused in rich sauces |
| Japanese | Steamed rice, sashimi, sushi, soup udon or soba, teriyaki, sukiyaki, chawan mushi, stir-fried dishes | Fried rice/noodles, tempura, katsu dishes |
| Western | Salads (light dressing), baked potatoes, shrimp cocktail (without dressing), baked, broiled, steamed, grilled, poached, roasted dishes, stir-fried/steam vegetables, pasta with light sauces, fresh fruit, sherbet, sorbet | Cream-based soups, oil-based salad dressings, garlic bread, french fries, onion rings, fried, creamed, stuffed, buttered, breaded dishes, pasta with rich sauces, rich cakes, puddings |
| Fastfood | Broiled or grilled burgers, roasted (skinless and unbreaded) chicken, baked potatoes, salads, light-crust pizza with vegetables and less cheese, low-fat milk shakes, diet sodas, 100% juices | Burgers with extra pan-fried meats and cheese, french fries, onion rings, soft drinks, full-fat milk shakes, sundaes |
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Report
The second expert report of the WCRF was released globally on November 1. An expert panel of 21 scientists from around the world reviewed research on diet, physical activity and the risk of cancer and developed a set of recommendations to reduce the risk. AFIC will include an article on diet, physical activity and lifestyle and cancer risk in the next issue of Food Facts Asia. AFIC can also provide a list of experts in Asia for information on this topic.
WHO Growth standards follow-up
The World Health Organization released new growths standards for children from birth to 5 years of age in 2006. The standards were based on data collected through the WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study in the United States, Brazil, India, Ghana, Norway and Oman. Data from a 2 year follow-up study has reported that the growth patterns in the children following the recommendations for breastfeeding and the timing of the introduction of weaning foods from the 6 different study sites are similar. This suggests that healthy children following recommended diets and raised in healthy environments have very similar growth patterns regardless of their race or genetic background. It's a small world after all.
The World Health Organization released new growths standards for children from birth to 5 years of age in 2006. The standards were based on data collected through the WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study in the United States, Brazil, India, Ghana, Norway and Oman. Data from a 2 year follow-up study has reported that the growth patterns in the children following the recommendations for breastfeeding and the timing of the introduction of weaning foods from the 6 different study sites are similar. This suggests that healthy children following recommended diets and raised in healthy environments have very similar growth patterns regardless of their race or genetic background. It's a small world after all.
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