Consumers Must Not Become ‘Mindless Fanatics’ of Western Fast Food

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http://watchingamerica.com/News/243332/consumers-must-not-become-mindless-fanatics-of-western-fast-food/

Consumers Must Not Become ‘Mindless Fanatics’ of Western Fast Food
Huanqiu, China
By Gu Yun
Translated By Nathan Hsu
24 July 2014
Edited by Helaine Schweitzer

Following revelations regarding the use of expired meat by Husi Food Company, a supplier of McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and other Western fast food franchises, authorities in Shanghai have discovered that groups within the company may have also been guilty of illegal behavior in their production operations. To date, law enforcement has taken five of the persons involved into custody.

The issue has been exposed and the products in question have essentially been taken care of. Logic dictates that consumers should be on heightened alert toward this kind of unethical and illegal behavior. But according to news investigations, several McDonald's restaurants in Beijing are still selling the McNugget products that have since been taken off the menu in the Shanghai area, and there has been no noticeable daily drop in customers in those restaurants despite the revealed dangers in food safety. Apparently, the same is true in other regions across China.

Despite full knowledge that these Western fast food restaurants have experienced food safety concerns, consumers are still flocking to them by the droves. It is a phenomenon that would be equally bewildering in any industry. Even more shocking is the fact that some people are posting articles online expressing their "thankfulness and support for Western fast food," with at least one person claiming that McDonald's and KFC are also victims in the affair. What exactly does this paradoxical attitude indicate?

In this instance, it might seem that McDonald's, KFC and other Western fast food chains are also victims, but this is not the case. Every company must take responsibility for its products, and such responsibility must begin with the supply of its raw materials. It goes without saying that the quality of these materials determines the quality of the finished product. Husi Food Company meat products are the primary ingredient in Western fast food. How can these restaurants absolve themselves of blame in allowing problematic ingredients to make it through the chain of food production? Although one might say that Husi has duped McDonald's, McDonald's has also failed its customers. Can consumers really be told to take up their beef directly with Husi?