Two Chinese Executives Executed Over Tainted Milk Scandal

Milk and milk-based baby food formulas all around the world were recalled last year when it became obvious Chinese suppliers of the milk were contaminating it with a toxic industrial chemical to artificially boost the protein content of the products.  Many babies died.  Hundreds of thousands more suffered kidney stones and kidney failure.  Today, Chinese court officials say two executives have been executed over their role in the tainted milk scandal.

Thus far, nineteen individuals have earned prison terms for their participation in the scandal and Geng Jinping and Zhang Yujun have now been executed.  Geng was manager of a milk production facility that sold milk tainted with melamine to the now-bankrupt Sanlu Group.  Zhang was charged with endangering public safety by dangerous means for his role in selling more than 862 US tons of tainted milk powder.

Nitrogen-rich melamine is a chemical used to make fertilizer, flame retardants, wood adhesives, ceiling tiles, and a wide array plastic products.  It causes kidney damage when ingested.  When melamine-tainted substances are tested for protein content, the protein content appears higher than it actually is, thanks to the melamine.  The rationale behind the melamine-laced protein "boost" is dilution.  Chinese milk producers routinely diluted liquid milk to increase volume.  By water-logging the milk this way, its natural protein content was diluted, too.

Sanlu sold more than 1,000 US tons of the tainted milk, knowing it was contaminated with the toxic chemical.  Tian Wenhua, Sanlu's general manager at the time of the poisonings, pled guilty last January and received a sentence of life in prison.  Another Sanlu executive, Wang Yuliang, attempted, but failed, to commit suicide by jumping from a tall building; he received a 15-year prison sentence.

In her defense, Tian says it was not the milk producers' fault the tainted milk poisoned so many babies.  She said, instead, that it was the lax system of regulations and standards within the Chinese government that caused the problem.

Last December, the Chinese government ordered 22 companies to pay fines totaling $161 million US to the families of the babies sickened by these toxic products.  Hundreds of those families have appealed that decision, saying the intended monetary compensation is far too low to justify the damage done to their families.

Readers, what are your thoughts?  Who's the guilty party here - the milk producers or the Chinese government?

Deer Hunter Donations Stock Food Pantries

Deer hunting season is in full swing and hunters across the country are bagging more trophies than they can eat.  Many other hunters are in it for sport only, with the food value of their kill holding no value to themselves.  Nevertheless, venison is a very delicious, highly nutritious meat and, each year, hungry families everywhere welcome the donations America's hunters have been making to stock food pantries across the nation.

Deer hunting is not an inexpensive way to put food on the table.  Guns, bullets, licenses, hunting lands and leases, among many other things, all add up quickly.  And processing an individual deer into edible portions costs a national average of about $70.  These costs add up and are hitting even the most generous hunter with a special wallop this year, thanks to the lingering recession we've faced over the last couple of deer-hunting seasons.

To help offset the price of deer meat donations to food pantries, several organizations, including Feeding America, Second Harvest Foodbanks, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and Safari Club International are awarding grant money and matching grants from other associations for processing this donated meat.

For example, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has awarded a grant of $100,000 for processing game meats donated by Ohio hunters; Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the Second Harvest Foodbanks of Ohio matched that amount.  Last year's deer donations doubled those of the year before.  In 2008, the 1,000-plus deers donated to Ohio food pantries provided 220,000 meals.  The need for food donations in Ohio alone grew by 37% from the previous year.  The Ohio wildlife agency is hoping assistance with processing fees will entice more hunters to donate more meat to accommodate the growing need.

People aren't the only critters that benefit from these food donations, according to Ohio deer biologist Mike Tonkovich.  Tonkovich says hunting helps control deer populations, which, in turn, helps keep down disease among the herds, minimizes the driving hazards deer pose to themselves and motorists, reduces the incidents of deer damage to crops and lawns, and keeps an overpopulated herd of deer from depleting food supplies for themselves and other wildlife.  The Ohio deer population is estimated at 650,000 but the state's wildlife management division would like to see that population closer to 500,000 for optimum management.

Venison may have a stronger flavor than commercially-raised meats, a factor that turns many people away from it, but it's far superior nutritionally.  The protein content of game meats is higher than other livestock, even that of farm-raised venison, while the fat content is lower.  Game meats, including venison, are never given antibiotics, growth-stimulating hormones, pesticides, and other chemicals and synthetic substances that bring higher prices but less food value to the industrial livestock industry.  Ground venison meat, prepared as stew or chili, is an excellent way to become familiar with this delicious meat.

Venison is one of my very favorite foods.  For recipe ideas, just email me;  I'll let you know how to get five venison recipes for just $1.00.