Pillar to Post: Peter Welander's Blog 
Recent Posts
- 3.6 billion gallons per day
- China's new slogan
- India's lessons of high energy costs
- Risks of wireless pioneering
- Has oil peaked?
- Fighting global warming like sheep
- Go to a virtual trade show & conference
- Happy World Environment Day!
- Airlines struggle with fuel cost too
- GM acknowledges painful reality
Recent Comments
- Patrick Rafter on Go to a virtual trade show & conference
- Bubba210 on Where your gas money goes
- Mark on GM acknowledges painful reality
- Qukler on I am not a socialist
- rich merritt on I am not a socialist
Most Commented On
- Chinese pharma plants go un-inspected? (2)
- I am not a socialist (2)
- GM acknowledges painful reality (1)
- Go to a virtual trade show & conference (1)
- Where your gas money goes (1)
Archives
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
Blog
Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)
Heparin analysis suggests shortcuts
Initial analysis of the bogus ingredient in heparin suggests the plant in China may have been adding it as a filler to extend batch volumes. In a report in the Chicago Tribune, lab tests have identified the substance as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (similar to the dietary supplement designed to help joint pain). This stuff is close enough to the real ingredient to fool normal testing, which is why it was released to users originally. The fact that the filler accounts for as much as 50% of the total in tested lots suggests that this wasn't some isolated slip-up.
Moreover, the timing of the problem points at a deliberate act. There was a swine epidemic in China that had an impact on the pig population just before the problem emerged. Since the other substance comes from another unidentified animal, it looks pretty suspicious. Ongoing investigations will try to determine where and when the bogus stuff was introduced into the supply chain.
So, when this is considered in the context of other problems with Chinese products, what is the lesson? If you produce or source in China, you're on your own. Whether it's toys, dog food, or pharmaceuticals, you pay your money and take your chance. Efforts that you take to protect yourself will be at your own expense, and will dilute any financial advantage of going over there in the first place. You pay for what you get.
Heparin analysis suggests shortcuts
March 20, 2008
Initial analysis of the bogus ingredient in heparin suggests the plant in China may have been adding it as a filler to extend batch volumes. In a report in the Chicago Tribune, lab tests have identified the substance as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (similar to the dietary supplement designed to help joint pain). This stuff is close enough to the real ingredient to fool normal testing, which is why it was released to users originally. The fact that the filler accounts for as much as 50% of the total in tested lots suggests that this wasn't some isolated slip-up.Moreover, the timing of the problem points at a deliberate act. There was a swine epidemic in China that had an impact on the pig population just before the problem emerged. Since the other substance comes from another unidentified animal, it looks pretty suspicious. Ongoing investigations will try to determine where and when the bogus stuff was introduced into the supply chain.
So, when this is considered in the context of other problems with Chinese products, what is the lesson? If you produce or source in China, you're on your own. Whether it's toys, dog food, or pharmaceuticals, you pay your money and take your chance. Efforts that you take to protect yourself will be at your own expense, and will dilute any financial advantage of going over there in the first place. You pay for what you get.
Posted by Peter Welander on March 20, 2008 | Comments (0)
Industries: Process Control
Advertisement
Advertisements
