More than one Advokat is clamoring for consumer protection laws in China, where more than ten thousand infants and small children have become very ill due to formula that has been tainted and contaminated. At first reports only named hundreds of infants, from one province in China, but then days later the number of babies sick has reached more than twelve thousand and can still be rising. The cause is a chemical called melamine, the same chemical responsible for the death of many beloved pets across Europe and in the US. This chemical mimics protein in quality tests, and because of this milk was being watered down and this toxic and very harmful chemical added to help avoid the fraud from being detected. More than sixty individuals have been arrested, but not provided with an advokat or any legal advice as is the custom in China. Advokater say that much tougher consumer protection laws should be put into place, and wonder exactly how high up in government circles the deceit has gone. The government is offering free medical care for the sickened babies, but unfortunately that is not an option for the parents of at least six babies who have died because of the contaminated milk powder.



To make matters worse, China has a one child per family limit, because of the large population of the country, making it even more devastating when a child is lost. An Advokat points out that in China, many rural areas are under the influence of local government officials, who are known at times to take bribes and look the other way for family and friends, putting the poor Chinese masses at risk for even more contaminated products. Even the largest two dairies in China have samples that tested positive for melamine, more than ten percent of the time. Many Advokat also show that in a country where food quality is not closely monitored, it will be extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly where the melamine comes from, but China is doing their best and threatening grave repercussions for anyone found to be responsible in any way. China has a big stake in better consumer protection laws, because this is just the latest scandal concerning product and food safety to give the country a black eye to the rest of the world, and they have seen their global ratings slide significantly.