Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

03-25-2009 21:39

Food Makers Renege on China Inspections

Yakult, Crown, Orion, SPC Tardy in Provision of Funds
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/123_41979.html

By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

Just months after being rocked by the melamine scare, Korean food makers are slow to deliver on their promise to improve the safety of their products manufactured in China.

After being exposed of putting melamine-contaminated cookies and dairy products on Korean shelves last fall, the beleaguered companies announced plans to spend 4 billion won ($2.8 million) to establish a joint testing facility in China to examine the safety of their products.

However, it now looks as if it will be impossible to complete the facility by June as originally planned, with companies like Korea Yakult, Crown, Orion Confectionery and SPC looking ready to bail as they recover from the public relations disaster.

Of the eight companies that pledged to finance the testing center, only CJ, Nongshim, Daesang and Lotte Confectionery have confirmed their will to spend on the project, the Korea Food and Drug Administration said.

``The companies have different ideas on who should spend how much in building the testing center, and the discussions have been slow since the economic downturn took a stronger hold,'' said a KFDA official.

``These are the same companies that rushed to announce public statements to promise better control over food safety when the melamine scandal broke out. Now, with things quieting a bit, they are choosing to act casually.''

Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical that is used as a coating in plastics and filters and as a fire retardant.

The melamine scandal began last September when at least four Chinese babies were killed by contaminated milk and nearly 300,000 more became ill, forcing food makers from Korea and other parts of Asia who had been producing their products through contract-manufacturing deals in China to recall products made from Chinese milk.

Despite the efforts to strengthen quality control, melamine contamination continues to be a concern for the Korean food industry and consumers.

Last month, Orion, SPC and Haitai Beverage were among six companies that were forced to recall some of their snacks and drinks products after authorities found them to be contaminated with melamine.

The Korea Foods Industry Association revealed plans in October last year to establish a government-approved, food-testing facility for companies that produced their products under original equipment manufacturing (OEM) settings.

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[wylies99]

[ChinaBoy]

Apparently the Korean government has no food safety laws and companies want money, not living customers.

[Sooke]

NO NO NO NO!!!!

You are the not understand!!!!

Korea company not bad!!! Only forgiener company bad!!!

Korea compeny only good!!! China company OK

Japan dog company and america pig company bad!!!! Get out my country!!!!

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But seriously folks, after you've been here awhile this will all seem natural. If Koreans do it to Koreans, there isn't a huge stink made (especially in the English language press). But heaven-forfend a foreigner or foreign OWNED company doing something even remotely viewed negatively and there's pheasant-smashing, finger-chopping fun for all.

While I think many Koreans may be upset by it, very few will tell you (a foreigner) about it.

[justaguy]

Foreigners don't have to do anything bad. The Mad Cow demonstrations prove that all there needs to be is a rumor of something bad.

[CentralCali]

justaguy: That was proven pretty well when Wal-Mart got chased out of Korea.

[wylies99]

But why did the media stop covering the story? Left wing nutjobs in the Korean media?