FDA Halts Milk Products from China

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally has acted on the melamine scandal that has impacted China. The scope of the contamination has been wide spread and the FDA is following other countries in halting the import of certain products with origins in China:

“Federal health officials on Thursday ordered dozens of imported foods from China held at the border as possible health risks. Most are ethnic treats, including snacks, drinks and chocolates.

It’s unusual for the Food and Drug Administration to put such a broad hold on goods from an entire country, not just a few rogue manufacturers. The order, which covers products made with milk, is a precaution to keep out foods contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, which can cause serious kidney problems.”

link: FDA to detain food shipments from China

The lack of speed with which the FDA has responded to this concern reflects the lack of funding and the lack of staffing that plagues this agency. In an poor economy, the United States can ill afford to antagonize a major trade partner. However, now that the restrictions are in place, the screening of these products again will illustrate the constraints that severely hinders the DFA from acting quickly and efficiently. This agency simply is not prepared adequately to maintain the security of the food supply.

Catherine Forsythe