Wow... so there is someone to blame for this? I thought it was more or less accidental.

Ooh! ooh! Can *I* do it???

@ViperBorg: I don't think most people who used melamine to fake protein tests were aware of (or too concerned with) its health risks, but there are charges that the dairy company in this case was slow to react to the news, and therefore helped cause further deaths.

although death penalty seems kind of extreme, some harsh punishments should be given to CEOs who tanked so many corporations and now wasting tax payers money.

@ViperBorg: Also, China likes to execute top dogs in cases like this. I'm not sure if they mistakenly think it's good global PR or what, but they've done similar stuff in the past.

[consumerist.com]

[consumerist.com]

This is the Chinese authorities way to divert us from the bigger problem: poor and/or dangerous quality of Chinese made products (does anyone remember the lead in children's toys?). this what happen when corporates try to make a quick buck over quality, and we the consumers swallow the bait, or in this case, the poison..

It's China, and it's happened before.

Move along, nothing to see here other than a sleeping giant with an isolationist regime still dealing with emerging in the first world.

@Chris Walters: Ah, yes, moving slowly after the Chinese government tells you to do something isn't exactly good for your health. And yes, they should have reacted more quickly.

Also, thanks for the links, Chris. It does seem that China has a pattern for severe punishment for things like this... which could be a good thing.

@ViperBorg: I should clarify. Could be a good thing in certain circumstances. Is death good? Eh, not really. Granted it caused deaths, but how much was this person's involvement level?

Strong punishments may serve as a good deterrent, but at what cost as well?

Just because she plead guilty, it doesn't mean she was actually in any way responsible. In order to restore faith in Chinese products, it would be necessary to have someone say they did it intentionally rather than it occurred accidentally. Accidents can happen again if the process by which the accident occurred is unknown. If someone says they did shoddy work, then punishing that party would lead people to believe their removal from the process ends the problem.

In Asia, the process of justice does not work the same way as the West. In Japan, there is a 99% conviction rate because once you are arrested, you must confess whether you are guilty or not (and the police coerce confessions), and China is far worse than Japan when it comes to human rights. If you get arrested, you're pretty much going to be found guilty whether you are truly guilty or not.

I don't know if this woman is guilty or not, but I think the statement that really stands out in the article is, "China, seeking to restore battered credibility in its food, drugs and products, is likely to pass stiff sentences if the four are convicted."