I loved snicker bar for its nutty taste. During my student days, a snicker bar and a can of juice from vending machine, was the snack in between lectures whenever I did not have enough time for lunch. Snicker bar was also the item I looked for whenever I stopped at petrol stations on long distance driving, be it here in Malaysia or overseas.
It remained my favorite snack until few years back when China melamine-contaminated-milk issue surfaced. I checked a snicker bar in one of our well known hypermarket and found out that it had a made-in-China bar codes. I became very careful when getting myself a snicker bar since then and I would only consume it when I was very sure that the barcode was not one of the made-in-China. Snicker bar is no longer my favorite, afterall, it does not seem to have to same good nutty taste as I used to enjoy it before.
I had an entry about "Black Hearted Goods" before. My entries on the subject of money and greeds are here, here, and here. In fact, my maiden entry for VA (Voices Around) was titled, "Because Of Money".
Subject: AVOID CHINA MADE FOOD & CHOCOLATES
China milk poisoning incidents make everyone afraid to look at the daily news report.
Everyday, the reports are changing. No one can clearly tell us what to eat and what not to eat.
1.What really is poisoned milk?
It is milk powder mixed with 'MELAMINE'
What is Melamine used for?
It is an industrial chemical used in the production of melawares.
It is also used in home decoration. 'US resistant board'
We all MUST understand that Melamine is used in INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION - - - - it CANNOT be eaten.
2.Why is Melamine added to milk powder?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And, Melamine has this same protein that contains 'NITROGEN'
Adding Melamine into milk reduces the actual milk content required, and therefore it is cheaper than all milk. So it lowers the capital required in the production of milk products. Therefore it earns the business man more profit!
Below is Melamine; doesn't it look like milk / milk powder?
It doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.
3.When was it discovered that it had been added to milk products. In 2007, US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contained Melamine.
Early in 2008, in China , an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones was reported.
In August 2008, China Sanlu Milk Powder tested for Melamine.
Sept. 2008, the New Zealand government asked China to investigate this problem
Sept. 21, 2008, they found that many food products in Taiwan tested for Melamine
4.What happens when Melamine ingested and digested?
Melamine remains inside the kidneys. It forms into stones blocking the tubes.
Pain will be imminent and the person cannot urinate. Kidney(s) will then swell.
Although surgery can remove the stones, it causes irreversible kidney damage.
It can lead to the loss of kidney function and will require kidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.
What is dialysis? In fact, it should be called 'blood washing'; it is filtering all of the body's blood into a machine and then returning the blood back to the body.
The whole process takes 4 hours; and it is necessary to have dialysis once every 3 days for the rest of your life.
A Large dialysis center
A small hole is required in the arm to insert the sub-dialysis catheter.
Why is it much more serious in babies?
A baby's kidneys are so very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.
A baby's kidneys are so very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.
Below: A baby undergoing dialysis.
China currently** has 13,000 infants hospitalized
(** presumably at around the time this article was first written)
It does not matter how much Melamine a human being ingested (ate) (took). The important point is: 'MELAMINE CANNOT BE EATEN!'
5.What foods are to be avoided?
Foods from China that contain dairy products should be avoided.
Remember: Foods with cream or milk should be avoided.
6.Which companies are affected?
Hereunder are the companies affected with Melamine.
7.What do we do next?
Avoid the above foods for at least six months.
If you own or operate a snack bar, a restaurant, or a coffee shops, etc., stop selling dairy products for the meantime.
If you have infants at home, change to mother's milk or find other substitutes.
Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of milk poisoning.
The whole world is very afraid of "Made In China" 'black-hearted' goods.
Do you know how to differentiate which products are made in the USA, or in the Philippines, in Taiwan, or in China?
Here's How:
The first 3 digits of the barcode identify the country code wherein the product was made.
For Example: ALL barcodes that start with 690, 691, 692, etc., up to and including 695 are all MADE IN CHINA.
Barcodes starting with 471 are printed on products Made in Taiwan.
You have a right to know. But the government and related departments never inform or educate the public. Therefore we must educate ourselves, be vigilant, and RESCUE ourselves.
Today, Chinese businessmen know that consumers will not select products 'Made in China'. So, they make every effort not to show or state the country of origin on their products. However, you can now refer to the barcode.
DO remember if the first 3 digits are one of those between 690 and 695 inclusive then it is a product Made in China.
OTHER BARCODES:
00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Liechtenstein
628 ~ Saudi-Arabia
629 ~ United Arab Emirates
740 ~ 745 - Central America
All 480 Codes are Made in the Philippines.
Please inform your family and friends. Be aware! And help others to be aware!
