2008 Woodie Awards
Chinese imports affecting what we eat and wear
Shannon Ianni
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Watch what you wear.
In June of 2007, a Florida resident picked up a pair of "Sand-N-Sun" flip-flops from her local Wal-Mart store. After only a few times of wearing the flip-flops, she began to notice a painful rash on her feet along the line of the flip-flops. That little rash turned into a chemical burn.
What many people do not know is that a great deal of our everyday products being imported in from China are showing to have high levels of harmful toxins.
For the Floridian woman, her case was not as severe as those that can be caused by the chemicals in other products.
Take toothpaste for instance. It has been shown that toothpaste imported from China contains a chemical called diethlene glycol, a poison used in antifreeze and brake fluid.
Pet food is another example. It contains melamine, a poison traced to food additives for hogs, fish and chickens.
But do not think it is just food for our pets that may be harmful. Fish and other food products coming in from China show high levels of antibiotics and the toxin tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin can cause serious illness or even death.
United States officials have asked China to take further steps to increase the safety of their food exports. All exporting companies are required to be registered, and unregistered companies are banned from exporting.
Yet the problems are not just affecting the U.S. In New Zealand, an investigation was launched dealing with children's clothing. What was found was formaldehyde, 500 times higher than a safe level. Supposed to give clothing a perm-pressed effect, it causes skin irritation, asthma symptoms, and even cancer.
"We need the production in China," said Associate Professor of International Business Dr. Balbir Bhasin. "[Our nation's] globalization leads to interdependence among countries. We demand cheaper, and naturally we face the reality that things will go wrong."
Legislation and taxation are so high in the U.S. that manufacturers look for ways to produce in a less expensive way. This is why we go abroad-cheap labor.
In June of 2007, a Florida resident picked up a pair of "Sand-N-Sun" flip-flops from her local Wal-Mart store. After only a few times of wearing the flip-flops, she began to notice a painful rash on her feet along the line of the flip-flops. That little rash turned into a chemical burn.
What many people do not know is that a great deal of our everyday products being imported in from China are showing to have high levels of harmful toxins.
For the Floridian woman, her case was not as severe as those that can be caused by the chemicals in other products.
Take toothpaste for instance. It has been shown that toothpaste imported from China contains a chemical called diethlene glycol, a poison used in antifreeze and brake fluid.
Pet food is another example. It contains melamine, a poison traced to food additives for hogs, fish and chickens.
But do not think it is just food for our pets that may be harmful. Fish and other food products coming in from China show high levels of antibiotics and the toxin tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin can cause serious illness or even death.
United States officials have asked China to take further steps to increase the safety of their food exports. All exporting companies are required to be registered, and unregistered companies are banned from exporting.
Yet the problems are not just affecting the U.S. In New Zealand, an investigation was launched dealing with children's clothing. What was found was formaldehyde, 500 times higher than a safe level. Supposed to give clothing a perm-pressed effect, it causes skin irritation, asthma symptoms, and even cancer.
"We need the production in China," said Associate Professor of International Business Dr. Balbir Bhasin. "[Our nation's] globalization leads to interdependence among countries. We demand cheaper, and naturally we face the reality that things will go wrong."
Legislation and taxation are so high in the U.S. that manufacturers look for ways to produce in a less expensive way. This is why we go abroad-cheap labor.
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