The Public Relations Effort Over the Melamine Contamination

The melamine contamination in China could impact upon the profitability of international companies. One such example is Nestle, as the company mounts a security and public relations effort to control the quality and reputation of its products:

“The head of European food giant Nestle said Friday the company had mounted a “sizable effort” to ensure the safety of its dairy products in China, sending in scientists and specialized machines in the wake of the melamine contamination scandal.

“From the first moment, the first minute we heard about the problem, we mobilized quite a sizable effort,” CEO Paul Bulcke said at a news conference to inaugurate a research and development center in Beijing. “We mobilized close to 45-50 people worldwide to be part of the solution and containment of this problem.”"

link: Nestle sends experts for melamine tests in China

Nestle may have the appearance of good co-operation from the Chinese authorities. In the future, the Chinese government may have stringent checks of products before it reaches Nestle facilities. The same cannot be said for other manufacturers in China. The industrial structure in China is so vast that it may take years for adequate security controls to be implemented. The Chinese government may insist that the infrastructure is in place to guarantee product safety. However, the contaminated pet food, the contaminated milk, the contaminated eggs and other products provide contrary evidence to the government controlled reports.

Catherine Forsythe