Fight for food safety

THE SHOCKWAVES CAUSED BY THE PROBLEMATIC cooking oil recycled from kitchen waste in Taiwan have yet to create ripples on the mainland although it has been revealed that some food made with such oil may have crossed the Straits. Yet, there is no reason for consumers on the mainland to be optimistic about the food safety situation and neither is there any reason for watchdogs to relax their vigilance against substandard or unsafe food products.

The impact this scandal has caused is unprecedented. That thousands of food manufacturers on the island and in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions are involved is beyond our imagination because mainlanders usually believe supervision over food safety is tighter in these regions.

This scandal again verifies the fact that self-discipline based on conscience is not reliable. The temptation of greater profits can always lead people astray.