I've been gone for awhile and I saw this article which I thought might be of some general interest. I realize that it is NOT relevant to the usual discussions on a PN forum but it was enlightening and frankly, somewhat frightening to me - hopefully it is not a harbinger of the future of US medicine.
no shooting the messenger please.

Alkymst

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120593944533748617.html

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread41667.html

It is a concern. And it continues the worry that China seems to know how
to adulterate things to its advantage.

It is no accident that Chondritin tests the same in tests for heparin.

China has had a taste now of monetary success... and it seems to be doing things to get as much monetary return as possible in all cases.
When we outsource to a culture very different from our own...this is bound to
happen. We have problems of greed here too... but China is an ocean away!

How did I guess it must be from China,and why does it take the FDA. so long
to chit chat about it..

I would hate to be flat on my back in IC getting those shots in my belly,
but blood clots are not good..So in some cases kill you if you do or
kill you if they don't..That is until they stop this crap,one death is one
to many..Thanks to both of you,for printing this. We can use our voices,
but if,well it's sad,and it will contiue in something else. Mrs.d you are
so right. Sue

the greed and callousness of our pharmaceutical companies knows no bounds

When there is no choice, and the faith of the patient is in the hands of others
it is a crime to discover how China has hoodwinked and deceived the American public.
But it is an aspect of their culture to take advantage of anyone who is not wary.
That's the way they do (and have done for centuries) business.
" 'Inscrutable', these Chinese" ...used to be the term.
This has nothing to do with Americans of Chinese descent. It has to do with
the culture of China as a country. Social mores prevalent in the geographic area.

I go out of my way to avoid Chinese products, if at all possible.
But, sadly - this is not easily done.

Built in conflict of interest called "shareholders".

And of course, greed, as you pointed out.

Saw some additional info on the state of API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) = DS (Drug substance) manufacture and import from foreign suppliers.

In the article, PAIs = preapproval inspections, CDER = Center for Drug Evaluation & Research, SFDA = State Food and Drug Administration = China's equivalent to the FDA.

http://www.magnetmail.net/actions/em..._id=FDCReports

Alkymst