Crisis of Confidence in Chinese Food Exports: Causes, Effects, and a Solution for Customer Assurance
Given the recent tainted food imports report in the US, Chinese food exporters are advised to take concrete steps to assure consumer safety.
Date:
December 2007
Keywords (click to search): [trade and exports] [food contamination] [food impurity] [trade with China] [causes and effects of crisis in chinese food exports] [hostile media coverage] [Chinese products image] [ customer assurance] [consumer confidence]
By John S. Eldred of Keller and Heckman LLP, Shanghai
THE CRISIS
The following represents a small sampling of similar recent headlines in major US newspapers: "Chinese Gluten Linked to Pet Deaths", "How US Should Approach China's Tainted Imports", "An Export Boom Facing a Quality Crisis; Customers Worldwide Pressing Beijing to Act After Tainted-Food Case", and "Farmed in China's Foul Waters, Imported Fish Treated With Drugs Traditional Medicine, Banned Chemicals Both Used."
The crisis began in April, 2007 with the discovery of adulterated wheat gluten from China that was used as an ingredient in pet food that caused a large number of dog and cat illnesses and deaths. A major recall had ensued of many brands of pet food even before the problem was laid at the door of Chinese wheat gluten suppliers who had partially substituted melamine and other compounds for wheat gluten to reduce cost while seemingly...
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