China’s Endless Recall
Toys, toothpaste and tires are just a few products on the list
By Nicole Lulinski and Raph Sangiovanni
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Santa’s job is a lot tougher this year as China’s toy recall list grows longer and 80 percent of all toys sold in the U.S. are from China. Aqua Beads sets are the latest addition to the list, as they were coated with a chemical that converts into the date rape drug GHB, also known as “Liquid Ecstasy.” Most of the toys recalled had higher levels of lead paint, which can cause brain damage.
But it’s not just toys. Toothpaste, pet food, seafood and others are all Chinese exports that have been recalled. The number of products from China on recall has doubled in the last five years, which makes up more than 60 percent of this year’s recalls, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“Made in China”-stamped products are in fact cheaper, but now they appear to have a hidden cost: They could be hazardous to your health and safety.
It was just six years ago in 2001 when China was admitted to The World Trade Organization (WHO) and any trade barriers with them were eliminated. Afterwards, China became the primary supplier to half of the world’s nations. This year, it has nearly tripled its exports to the United States, and China is now our top foreign source for tires.
Overnight, or so it seems, China grew into the world's leading provider of seafood, with over half of it being farmed. Last year, China shipped $1.9 billion worth of fish and shellfish to the United States, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which only inspects about five percent of the farmed seafood.
Product recalls are a serious matter, so China’s 2007 recall spree raises questions about the standards and safety of Chinese exports.
In 2007, the following imports from China were recalled:
- Pet Food: This came after thousands of dogs and cats in the North America became ill or died. The food contained a chemical (melamine) that made it appear more expensive.
- Seafood: The FDA restricted imports of Chinese shrimp, catfish, eel, basa and dace after finding traces of drugs not allowed in farmed fish.
- Toothpaste: It contained a poisonous chemical called diethylene glycol (DEG), an ingredient used in antifreeze. The FDA issued a consumer alert not to buy toothpaste made in China.
- Tires: 450,000 were recalled after the Foreign Sales Tire Union found the tires were missing a safety feature that prevented them from separating.
- Toys: Of the 24 toy recalls this year, all are Chinese imports. Most were the result of harmful levels of lead paint, which can damage brain cells, particularly in kids.
- Thomas & Friends toy trains: 1.5 million,
- Groovey Grabbers: 4 million
- Polly Pockets Play sets: 7 million
- Barbie accessories: 675,000
- Sponge Bob Square Pants address books: 250,00
Most of the Chinese export problems are driven by the world’s overwhelming demand for its products and the quest for the cheapest price, as well as the industries policing themselves.
Additionally, the Chinese government does not have a reliable checking system for toxicity in products. Also, the FDA in the U.S. is under-budgeted and under-staffed, so it can’t handle the massive increase of imports coming into the country. Imports into the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last few years, whereas 15 years ago we imported less and from a larger number countries, not primarily China.
The government of China takes these problems seriously and is working to enforce the standards given to the hundreds of thousands of Chinese exporters. They closed down 180 food manufacturers who used industrial chemicals and additives in their products.
Consequences for corrupt actions have been pretty severe. Earlier this year, Zheng Xiaoyu was sentenced to death for taking bribes to approve substandard medicines, which resulted in at least 10 deaths. He was the head of China’s drug regulation agency in the ’80s.
His secretary Cao Wenzhuang, who oversaw the pharmaceutical registration department, was also sentenced to death with a two year reprieve for accepting bribery charges.
China is working to resolve the safety and toxic issues, but its officials claim that media coverage has exaggerated the situations. Currently the Chinese seafood producers are negotiating with a Swiss inspection and certification company that would assure the seafood’s safety and bring back trust in China’s products.
How do you feel about made-in-China products? Let us know at: outloud@outloud.com..