China Cracks Down On Food Makers

In a sign that it has taken to heart international criticism of its food and drug production system, China announced a new plan to increase inspections and crack down on suspect producers. China has been at the center of several international scandals involving toxic ingredients -- in pet food, animal feed, toothpaste and over-the-counter medications. It isn't the only country to have its industries run amok without supervision, however. Animal feed makers in the United States have also admitted using the industrial chemical melamine -- one of the culprits in the massive pet food recall. While governments in both China and the U.S. struggle to assure consumers they can police the system, the realities about the complex international food, drug and personal care product industry have become clear. It's big, it's wild and it isn't yet clear how to tame it, according to a story in the June 7 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.