CHINA-FREE PRODUCTS: Beijing Olympics? So what.

CHINA-FREE

DEFINITION chi-na-free adj. A term proposed for use on food labels to show that products are not made in China.

CONTEXT In light of recent health and safety scares regarding Chinese-made food and products, a U.S.-based company called Food for Health International has announced plans to put "China-free" stickers on its goods. The subtext: These products won't make you sick or have harmful contaminants like melamine.

USAGE Given recent recalls of items from toys to toothpaste, China-free labeling could catch on, though consumers would do well to remember that not all products from China are tainted and not all tainted products are from China.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Beijing Olympics? So what.

Beijing Olympics? So what - International Herald Tribune: "Here's a contrarian question concerning the 2008 Beijing Olympics: Who cares? Sure, it's a big deal - the media are telling us so. One year out, we're being bombarded by countdown articles about how grand and historic the event will be: massive construction projects, an army of foreign journalists, Steven Spielberg-directed pageantry and, oh yeah, some sporting events. China sees the games as a coming-out party, a showcase for its rising stature as a world power. Critics see them as a perfect opportunity to push China for greater openness, more tolerance for dissent and better behavior as a global citizen."