Food Safety: Should We be Tougher on Harmful Produce from China?

In the span of just a few years, China has become one of the world's biggest exporters of food. It has become the leading exporter of fruits and vegetables, food additives and ingredients.

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Even as this is happening, the safety of food from China is increasingly becoming an issue. The recent pet food scandal crystallized these fears after thousands of North American cats and dogs fell ill –the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has so far confirmed 16 deaths – from pet food containing Chinese wheat gluten tainted with the plastics-related chemical melamine.

But the melamine scandal is just the most notorious in a long string of ongoing problems that China faces. They include overuse of highly toxic pesticides and fertilizers to boost yields, improper use of animal drugs, fraud and corruption. And as Western countries are finding out – from fish pumped full of antibiotics to filthy seafood – China is exporting these problems abroad.

Tomorrow, the World Health Organization will release a major report on the safety of China's food system and make recommendations on how to fix it. The Star has learned that much of it will focus on China's convoluted regulatory framework, loose laws and lack of monitoring.

	"Made in China" certified, uncertified or both?	International Herald Tribune	Sun May 20	2
	Chinese Poison Train Declared Unstoppable: Next Stop, You!	Consumerist	Mon May 21	1
	Tainted Chinese Imports Common	The Washington Post	Sun May 20	0
	U.S. Asks China for Significant Changes in Food Safety Relationship	ABC News	Fri May 25	0
	U.S. to China on Pet Food: The Market Will Be the Enforcer!	ABC News	Thu May 24	0