opinion

 

Tainted products, risky business and an execution

by Clarence E. Pilgrim

"Everything has been figured out, except how to live," said Jean-Paul Sartre.

The issue of tainted and dangerous products continue to haunt many industries even after one country in particular, China, demonstrated its intention to put an end to corrupt practices by executing their former food safety head Zheng Xiaoyu.

But even this public demonstration of that government's attempt to restore confidence in its products does not put to rest the fact that the "wheelers" and "dealers" who are engaged in these unacceptable practices are deeply embedded in the very culture of many of the multinational corporations who seek to exploit cheap labor and low safety standards to present a high profit yield for share holders. Zheng Xiaoyu, who headed China's Food & Drug administration from 1998 to 2005, was found guilty of accepting bribes from firms to register their products without making them undergo the necessary safety checks. But was this ultimate punishment justified, and is it useful as a deterrent to others? Or was this high-profile public official a pawn who was sacrificed to divert attention from the real conspirators and main beneficiaries?

Even after the infliction of capital punishment in one jurisdiction, the world is still playing Russian roulette with safety standards. The recent recall issued by the business giant Mattel, first against Chinese-made toys in August, then recently with over 155,000 toys made in Mexico, because of fears that it provided a choking risk to young children, are just examples of what years of misuse and abuse of consumer rights and the capitulation of the responsibility of governments to effectively monitor and protect its citizens from unscrupulous individuals and businesses.

Mattel said the latest recall was because "small pieces of the tap or the clock hands pose a choking hazard to young children if liberated from the toy". Mattel has in the past recalled millions of toys made in China because of the lead content found in the paint.

Just as a matter of interest, I will recall some of the popular Barbie toy accessories that were recalled:

·        Dream Puppy House Playset (J9485) sold since 13 October 2006, because of the paint on the dog

·        Dream Kitty Condo Playset (J9486) sold since 13 October 2006, because of the paint on the cat

·        Table & Chairs Kitchen Playset (K8606) sold since 30 October 2006 because of the paint on two dinner plates, the dog, the crisp bowl and the salad bowl

·        Bathtub & Toilet Bathroom Playset (K8607) sold since 30 October because of the brown color on the cat

·        Futon & Table Living Room Playset (K8608) sold since 30 October 2006 because of the brown color on the cat

·        Desk & Chair Bedroom Playset (K8609) sold since 30 October 2006 because of the brown color on the dog

·        Couch & Table Living Room Playset (K8613) sold since 30 October 2006 because of the yellow flower on the handbag

Now another scare has erupted, and has led to the recall of over four million Chinese-made Aqua Dots bead toys. These are said to be coated with a chemical that, once metabolized, converts into the toxic "date rape" drug GHB, or gamma-hydroxyl butyrate. It is reported that this has caused some children to vomit and become comatose after swallowing them. It is reported that the drug in low doses actually causes euphoria but in higher doses, can cause persons to go into a coma. It can also cause one's muscles to go flaccid in a condition called hypotonia.

To the many victims who have suffered the effects of tainted products, we can only hope that it is an experience from which you can fully recover.

With a wider focus on universal agreements in health care and healthy living, standards must be established without compromise and with a clear purpose. I believe that it is appropriately applied when I use the words of Sir Winston Churchill, when he said "Sometimes it is not enough to do our best; we must do what is required." If we are to protect society, indeed whole generations, we must be prepared to take strong and decisive action to bring about the industry safety standards which would ensure that the greatest degree of usage protection is provided for everyone.

 

 

Clarence E. Pilgrim is an educator and senior civil servant in Antigua & Barbuda