quelquefois

I was thankful that I didn’t buy a large can of X brand powdered milk at the store the other day. Days after, the Sanlu milk powder scandal was scoured all over international media. And, as recently as yesterday, more news broke of even more dairy companies (as many as 22, according to Bloomberg) having melamine in their products. Among these companies is Yili, an official Olympic sponsor,and also the brand of milk and yogurt that I drink. It’s not too reassuring when the company describes their fermentation method as something that is “through the advanced and unique arts and crafts, so it is of high quality. ” (source)

As a side note, I do think it’s pretty hilarious how Yili describes these yogurts:

Targeted Consumers: The products are mainly designed for urban white-collar ladies aged 23 to 35, who care more about their appearances, has certain consuming capacity, seek for a better life quality and pay more attention to the exquisite details and superior mental experience. They are also fashionable and pay attention to health and individual personalities.
Taste: Elegant Plain, Moist Aloe-Flavored,  Skin-Regenerating Blueberry-Flavored

And for their lowfat milk:

It is for married women who are 26-45,who pay attention to the body and the health. They buy for their children and themselves.

I’m kind of loving the whole arbitrary age groups. But anyway, food in China seems never to be up to par, and I’m seriously considering altering my diet to include more imported foods, regardless of price. I’d rather pay $7 for a box of cereal than pay $7,000 for a hospital bill. It’s too bad that I come to China hoping to immerse myself within its culture, but find myself having to find ways to avoid certain Chinese things. I don’t mean to say this with the idea that American everything is the best there can be. Of course it isn’t. Indeed, much of what I use and consume in the States is “Made in China.” Additionally, we also have our own food and product crises.

I just wish that the Chinese weren’t always in it for the quick profit (sound familiar, Wall Street? Learn this lesson from the Chinese, will ya?), and weren’t willing to trick consumers into believing something is perfectly fine when it’s not.

China’s notion that they can substitute harmful ingredients for real ones just for the sake of profit is seriously one that needs to be shed. Unfortunately, changing a culture 1.3 billion strong is immensely difficult, as can be seen in my futile attempt to convince Chinese citizens that I’m really not a Korean. Really.