Obviously, it didn't go without saying. The problem occurred. The common theme in this type of problem is: profit motivation trumping public welfare. In this case: "Food and food additive producers add melamine to their products to "fake out" the lab test for total nitrogen commonly used as a secondary or "surrogate" indication of protein content. With the pet food scandal, melamine addition allowed bulk protein supplement (gluten) distributors to charge more because the lab tests indicated relatively high (false) protein value." http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/got-melamine-china-contamination-milk.php
An alternative viewpoint: http://www.morganhilltimes.com/opinion/248916-deregulation-is-reason-for-subprime-mortage-crisis This debate could go back and forth endlessly, without resolution. The welfare of the American public has been made subservient to special (corporate and government) interests, under the watchful eye of their elected officials. THAT is the root problem.
========================== Thoughtful points T-Gregg. Actually Senator Mc Cain has been[track record/]should be much better; appointing right judges, appointing FCC/board, 2nd ammendment............................................................. And MR McCain is very very old-yes, Sarah; and Mr Mcain[very, very very old] is NO-where near the most liberal USA Senator-B Hussein is. And Senator MCain did mock & strive with Jerry Falwell years ago; he seems to realize that was a costly mistake; compare to Seantor B Hussein, mocking believers in God & guns.
And they say that Republican supporters are half-wits who can't type two sentences with a spelling error. You showed them.
No ones life need be deprived in this case, there is fraud involved and a serious breech of confidence, which in time a free market will sort out on its own. Menu Foods Limited does not have the same brand confidence today, as they had before this happened. I'm sure buyers are fully aware. Again, what would be appropriate restraints to place on a Free Market, other than restraints that keep Free Markets from depriving people of their life, liberty or property through either force or fraud?
You're right -- someone was defrauded of .001% of protein. That's not even worth worry about as a fraud case. I wonder why people got so upset about it. I wasn't. But I am pleased to know that only a few babies died so that everybody could have perfect knowledge and be fully aware. Or, we could have a regulatory system in place to prevent these cases, like China obviously doesn't have. Regulations and testing of foodstuffs seems like an obvious one. Maybe people to prevent meat sales of tainted meat or meat that is likely at the end of its shelf life and may become dangerous in the future, you know, we could call them inspectors. Or we could let a few people die and then clog the courts while everybody becomes "fully aware." Your way is good too, and bloody hell it would be entertaining.
We already have inspectors and in 2007 added even more. http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/04/24/food.melamine/index.html Grocery stores employees are quite capable of pulling their own meat (no pun intended). As customers, if we don't like the look of the meat, don't buy it. More inspectors are not needed and only add to the costs of your food.
*Facepalm* Well that's a good idea to have these people regulating private businesses. I'm glad to hear that you support this rather than, say, getting rid of all inspectors which clearly would be dangerous. So your position is that if you squint enough you can see the e-coli. You sir, have very, very good eyes. Here's another thought -- we set up government labs for the inspectors and we let them test for dangerous contaminants, or contaminants that might make us sick. Since you've already agreed to have inspectors regulating, that seems like a logical step.