Original translation by Independent Press Association New York
Mainland China’s tainted milk powder scandal has turned increasingly serious. Four babies died and the number of children affected by it has increased to 53,000. The issue has a wider and more serious bearing as well: the key chemical involved in the scandal, melamine, is found not only in milk powder, but also in feed for fish and pigs. Thus, the chemical, which is stored in the animals, can affect human safety. Frozen seafood coming from China in Manhattan’s Chinatown has been affected as well. Seafood vendors are warning the customers to check the origin of the products before purchasing and to avoid buying those of with an unknown origin, even if it’s a bargain.
On September 23, the New York City’s Health Department said that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is currently scrutinizing the imports from China in order to ensure the public’s safety. According to the City’s Department of Consumer Affairs, it has not received complaints for the tainted milk powder. Nevertheless, the melamine scandal involves not only milk powder, but also yogurt, congee, canned soup and other dairy products as well.
According to Chinese supermarkets and retailers, Chinese parents often buy milk powder produced in the United States indicating that there is no need for concern. As for milk tea and other beverages from China, the sales have dropped by about 20 percent. Yet, several owners of beverage places in the Chinatown area say the scandal has not really affected their businesses.
“We use only dairy milk and products from the United States, and the coconut milk that we have here is from Taiwan. So the sources and quality of food are all safe, which should make our consumers feel comfortable. The customers who used to drink milk tea, they still drink milk tea,” said James, a café owner in Chinatown.
But as tainted milk powder scandal spreads across China, many customers are proactively avoiding dairy products and opting to drink tea without milk.
One Chinatown food vendor claimed that all his seafood was approved by the FDA; nevertheless, much of the seafood came from unknown sources.
Customers should be especially careful with frozen seafood imported from China and purchase fish packaged by well-know Chinese companies, which are more likely to be extra cautious in inspecting their products.
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