TALES FROM THE TOP

We’ve been looking at milk and milk products with a bit of suspicion since news broke out that a major milk supplier in China has been adding melamine to its products to boost the protein content.

As it turns out, prolonged exposure to Melamine can be hazardous to our health.

But avoiding China made products will not be enough. We may be buying milk products, chocolates and yoghurt made elsewhere but do we really know where the raw materials are sourced from?

It is possible that the made in Thailand ice cream bar you are eating contains a trace of milk powder originally proccesed in China. Even possible that the Made in Singapore apple juice you are drinking contains juice pressed from apples harvested in China. These days, who knows.

Back in the spring Canada’s Conservative Government tabled a bill tightening “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” labeling.

Now, all ingredients must be from Canada, and production must be in done in Canada for a product to be entitled to carry “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” ( Fabrique au Canada and Produit du Canada ) labeling.

If a product contains ingredients from elsewhere, the label must say so.

The vice president of the Consumers’ Association of Canada said there are two different reasons for labelling. One is to define some economic benefit to Canada. The other is to let the consumer know where items in that can or product came from — so that consumers can make an informed decision.

He said “It is that latter concern that has been bothering us for the past few years as we are seeing more and more imported products — and unfortunately, more and more tainted products.”

Should the rest of the world follow Canada’s lead? Surely it is not trade protectionism.

It is just a case of consumer-protection.

Manufacturers are still allowed to use products from elsewhere as long as they are labeled properly, while consumers like us can decide for ourselves.

I’ve travelled the world over and over again. And everytime I tell people I work in Singapore, the first thought that comes out is the chewing gum issue.

They seem to collectively think that it is still illegal to chew gum in  Singapore.

I was already in Singapore when the chewing gum legislation was revised in 2004.

It was one of the sticking points — pardon the pun — in the final phase before the ratification of the Singapore-USA Free Trade Agreement.  Apparently, a chewing gum giant in the US lobbied congress to get the gum issue in the agenda.

So after all was said and done, Singapore revised the legislation to allow the sale of  chewing gum, with medicinal value,  to be sold only by medical professionals or pharmacists.  Buyers will also need to leave their names and other details for the record.

After explaining the legalities of chewing and possession of gum in Singapore, most foreign nationals are puzzled as to why we have to register our names after purchasing gum from the pharmacy.

And I really don’t know the answer to that. Perhaps, it gives authorities the power to search thorugh their DNA database and match it with gum buyers whenever a piece of used gum is disposed of improperly.

Afterall the gum ban came about when vandals started inserting and sticking used gums into places they weren’t supposed to.

Overall I find it quite interesting and amusing to describe to people how living in Singapore is not as strict as one might think. I come from a very liberal society and I have very liberal thoughts yet I fit snuggly in Singapore.

I was in Paris recently, and France is well known for it’s inefficiency.

After a few inefficient experiences in Paris, it was easy to appreciate that in Singapore everything just works.

And to be assured no gum will stick itself under your shoes when you walk around town.