Toxic Capsule Scandal Intensifies in China

China’s toxic drug capsule scandal has intensified over the past few days. The state-run Xinhua News Agency reports the legal representative of the Hebei Xueyang Glair Gelatin Factory, Song Haixin, allegedly encouraged one factory worker to set fire to the building Saturday in hopes of destroying evidence of producing contaminated industrial gelatin.

A reporter from The Nanfang Daily found a ledger book on site with entries of loans and dealings with the factory’s business partners (show photo of the paper). These business partners include many big Chinese food additives, beverages and dairy companies.

Chongqing Nutrition Association board member Zhou Lingguo tells NTD that gelatin is a thickening or coagulation agent in many foods, and industrial gelatin is harmful to human health.

[Zhou Lingguo, Board Member, Chongqing Nutrition Association]:
“Industrial gelatin contains chromium, and other heavy metal particles that are harmful to the human body. It is prohibited in the use of food and medicine.”

A Shenzhen-based political commentator is frustrated with the lack of government intervention.

[Zhu Lianguo, Political Commentator]:
“The Chinese Communist Party regime doesn’t allow the existence of democratic supervision. The authorities don’t listen to their people’s voice at all. They only focus on infrastructure projects…but ignore the food safety issue of their own people.”

Agricultural Market Journal Chief Editor Huang Tianliang feels the same way.

[Huang Tianliang, Chief Editor, Agricultural Market Journal]:
“The essence of our national morality, tradition and culture are absent. Politicians and businessmen are heartless. Everyone seems money driven…what’s happening to our nation? What toxins have those people in power instill into our mind?!”

This is yet another significant incident in the history of Chinese food safety after China has been hit by several other food safety scandals, such as melamine-tainted milk powder, gutter oil and clenbuterol hydrochloride, also known as “lean meat powder”, a toxic additive fed to pigs.