In Panama, officials say the industrial chemical melamine has surfaced in dozens of milk-based candy products that were imported there from China. Panama is only the latest in a series of countries to report melamine contamination, and many others have preemptively banned Chinese dairy products.
The tainted milk has left four children dead and thousands ill in China. A reported 1,500 dogs also died after eating food laced with the chemical.
The Chinese government has admitted partial responsibility in the scandal, and several dairy companies have apologized.
Nonetheless, the health scare questions the ability of the Chinese government to effectively regulate. Officials admitted that Sanlu — a dairy company in China that was one of the largest offenders — was exempted from inspection. Sanlu also asked the Chinese government for help in covering up the extent of the crisis.
Read our previous Blogwatch on bloggers’ responses to the initial scandal.
Below is a map detailing the spread of the contamination and countries’ responses to the scare. Click on the country to see the effects of the milk scandal and the actions taken against Chinese dairy products. Use the arrows to navigate the world.
10/21/2008 :: 12:35:40 PM
L. Buczynski Says:
We should stop importing products from China, India and all other countries until these countries are able to demonstrate that their products are safe. China is ruining the environment by producing toxic products (foods, toys, pharmaceuticals, etc.) that are unsafe and that end up in landfills. The manufacturing and shipping of their toxic products waste energy because the harmful products must be replaced with safe ones. Uncontrolled, unregulated globalization is one of the worst ventures that the U.S.A. has been involved in.