WHAT: China has worried about tainted food since the 2008 melamine-contaminated milk scandal. But there have been so many food scares in recent days and weeks that Chinese consumers are more enraged than ever and
demanding government action.
WHY IT’S OUTRAGEOUS: The latest contaminations discovered include exploding watermelons treated with plant-growth chemicals and outdated steamed buns painted to look new. Pigs were fed illegal growth hormones or dosed with harmful additives to taste like beef.
WHAT’S BEING DONE: Food safety has become a top priority for the Chinese government, which used to be more concerned about just having enough for people to eat. Now the state-controlled media allow aggressive investigative reporting about tainted food.
