WHAT’S CHINESE FOR SCAPEGOAT?

The execution of one person doesn’t balance a morality deficit

The head of China’s State Food and Drug Administration was sentenced to death yesterday for accepting bribes from food and drug companies that led to a number of deaths from faulty or poisonous products.

Besides the tainted pet food that killed hundreds of American dogs and cats, toothpaste that contained a chemical used in antifreeze, and medicine that has been linked to dozens of deaths in Panama, the products were responsible for the deaths of many Chinese citizens as well.

Thirteen babies died from malnutrition because they were fed milk from a fake powder that had no nutrients. Ten others were killed by an untested antibiotic that was approved by the Chinese FDA.

Though the official certainly deserves some kind of punishment, the fault is clearly with a system that doesn’t check corrupt companies, and even punishes whistle-blowers, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. Though the Chinese have promised to send out legions of inspectors, if they hope to regain a modicum of trust or respect (actually, that should probably be gain, instead of regain), an overhaul of the thoroughly corrupt regulatory system and the institutionalized lack of even basic corporate ethics, along with legions of indictments, is the vital next step.