Seppuku Sweets: Japan's dangerous candy

First up in our fear-inducement seminar: confectioners in Japan are using stale, expired ingredients in sweets and candies. See the SHOCKING report in The New York Times today
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/world/asia/31japan.html?hp

Of course the only thing that's really shocking about this is what a big deal this would be in Japan. Friends there tell me that everyone just assumes Japanese foodstuffs are safe and those from other places are not. What's more, the alleged misdoings concerned candy that's normally purchased as souvenirs, a common practice in Asia. We can look at this from a much broader perspective. Here's what we know:

In many Asian countries (such as Taiwan, where I live), most ANYTHING from Japan is held up as the shiny example, role model for local people. This means Japanese people (actors, models, porn stars, engineers), cars, food, consumer electronics, fashion are often considered best in class.

IF, and this is a big IF, Japanese stuff (such as snacks and candy which are very popular throughout Asia) actually IS better than those made in our local markets, then this news could be worrisome. This would mean that our local stuff is inferior to allegedly bad products, potentially meaning our Taiwan snacks and candies are even crappier and potentially more dangerous.

Japan is known for having high food safety standards. But what about "less developed" countries such as China? Well, just do a google news search for "China + food safety" if you really want to turn your stomach.

I was in Japan just last week. Of course I bought lots of tasty snacks there to bring home. I'm looking at some of the still-unopened packages right now. This all just makes me wonder, as we all should, just what it is that we're eating and what about the quality of products in our local market.

Think about that next time you buy some snacks to take home to your friends and family. I know I will.

More to come.
-jag