a new form of animal testing

[Guest guest]

I hesitated sending this article from today's online

Economist, because most outsiders probably don't

realize how problematic is the issue of safe food &

drink in China....this is isn't as flippant a use of

animal life as it might seem. But it is a form of

animal testing, which is an important issue for many

on this list, so here's the info:

 

<<Amid growing nationwide concerns about contaminated

food, organisers of the Beijing Olympics have

announced a novel (some say bizarre) way to ensure

food safety at the 2008 games: they plan to use mice

as testers. “Milk, alcohol, salad, rice, oil, salt and

seasonings will be tested by white mice 24 hours

before they are used in cooking or served to

athletes,” said Zhao Xinsheng of the Beijing Municipal

Health Inspection Bureau. Xinhua, the state-run news

agency, quoted Mr Zhao saying the mice would show

signs of any adverse reactions within 17 hours of

eating, a quicker response than standard tests without

mice.

 

Food scares are routine in China, where the use of

antibiotics, pesticides, dyes and additives is poorly

regulated, and where hygiene standards are often

appalling. But if all goes to plan, even the mice will

be safe. Olympic food supplies for over 2,000 athletes

and officials will be delivered in secure vehicles

tracked by global positioning systems, and stored

under the protection of guards, alarms and video

cameras.>>

 

Liz

[Guest guest]

This is very sad to hear. I have a special dislike for testing on mice... in

fact right now I've got a sick little one in my shirt trying to warm her up,

this is after hand feeding her Pedialyte evey half hour. They're such sweet

little animals, rats too, and it is heartbreaking that so many people see them

as nothing more than pests. I'm sure there are alternatives to this that they're

doing... they're probably just more expensive than just using cheap mice.

 

 

 

ERB <bakwin wrote: I hesitated

sending this article from today's online

Economist, because most outsiders probably don't

realize how problematic is the issue of safe food &

drink in China....this is isn't as flippant a use of

animal life as it might seem. But it is a form of

animal testing, which is an important issue for many

on this list, so here's the info:

 

<<Amid growing nationwide concerns about contaminated

food, organisers of the Beijing Olympics have

announced a novel (some say bizarre) way to ensure

food safety at the 2008 games: they plan to use mice

as testers. “Milk, alcohol, salad, rice, oil, salt and

seasonings will be tested by white mice 24 hours

before they are used in cooking or served to

athletes,” said Zhao Xinsheng of the Beijing Municipal

Health Inspection Bureau. Xinhua, the state-run news

agency, quoted Mr Zhao saying the mice would show

signs of any adverse reactions within 17 hours of

eating, a quicker response than standard tests without

mice.

 

Food scares are routine in China, where the use of

antibiotics, pesticides, dyes and additives is poorly

regulated, and where hygiene standards are often

appalling. But if all goes to plan, even the mice will

be safe. Olympic food supplies for over 2,000 athletes

and officials will be delivered in secure vehicles

tracked by global positioning systems, and stored

under the protection of guards, alarms and video

cameras.>>

 

Liz

 

 

 

 

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

Check out my new Classical 2 at

http://launch.classical2/