The scare is, to some extent, justifiable. Most of the folks who frequent 7-11, Mini-stop, and other convenience stores nearest their school or office have probably consumed Chinese-branded foodstuffs, where most of them are being sold.
However, there's no reason to blow the whole thing out of proportion...for now. From what I've seen so far, only infants were badly affected by the adulteration of melanine on infant formulas, and we know how susceptible those ickle bundles of joy and poop are.
On the other hand, us adults can just opt to check product labels, ditch them if they're marked as Made in China (or Made in PRC), and we can conduct our business as usual. No fire and brimstone or raining sulfur drama is needed if you ever find out you've been eating/drinking the same Chinese-manufactured goop for the past few years. Just avoid any further consumption, and you're good to go.
Which brings us to the point of this post. A few days ago several TV primetime news programs have announced that QualiBet, a food testing lab, was conducting tests to see which Chinese-manufactured foodstuffs contain melamine. This announcement brought about the same effect over the people as a visit to the dentist for a tooth extraction.
People were anxious to know whether their favorite Chinese brands are included in the list, yet at the same time are relieved that they'll soon know which brands to avoid. But alas, that is not to be the case.
QualiBet just released their findings a few minutes earlier in tonight's airing of primetime news over local TV. They stated what is already known as fact: some of the brands are indeed tagged as melamine positive.
The facepalming moment? They didn't reveal the brands of food products that contain melamine, saying that only BFAD has the right to reveal such information. BFAD, in turn, is unwilling to divulge such facts, saying that they won't release the list to the public for the reason that they didn't ask QualiBet to conduct the test in the first place.
Then, pray tell, what the FUCK was the whole testing fanfare for?
The only hard fact that the public gleaned from the stupid testing is that yes, indeed, several Chinese brands contain melamine. But we all knew that from the start, right? At the risk of sounding like an activist: was I perhaps too naive in assuming that BFAD's duty is to protect the consumers, and not the manufacturers? Or was this just an effort for Qualibet to get free advertising for their independent laboratory? I'm guessing its more of the latter.
Waste of money, waste of resources, waste of airtime, dammit, and I would have made use of that airtime to see more of Rustom in drag. She's so pretty now, a far cry from the faux white trash we saw in Pinoy Big Brother.
Update: ...aand BFAD is going to provide a partial list of safe milk products, to be released on Friday. Somehow, the whole debacle is turned into a free (?) government-sanctioned product endorsement. Pity the good brands that don't make the list. Maybe they should shell out a bit more... *wink wink*?
1 comments:
I agree. It's great that an independent and "trusted" company is taking part in the testing. MABAGAL gumalaw ang gobyerno. So my best bet is to also look into other countries' test regarding this. Good thing we just don't buy milk 'cause it's cheaper from the other. o.o hay facepalm nga!
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