Thu, May 17, 2007 -- 6:30 PM

Pacific Time 2007-05-17
Contamination Concerns from China -- As concerns about contaminated food products from China spread from pet food to the human food supply, the program explores the potential consequences for Chinese businesses and American regulators.

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Host: Sydnie Kohara

Chinese Food Safety Scare Follows Pet Food Contamination
In February, when veterinarians first noticed that they were seeing an unusual number of very ill dogs and cats, regulators suspected accidental contamination. Then it became clear that something toxic had been mixed in with the usual ingredients in many different brands of pet food. That toxic ingredient came from China. The scare for pet owners is just part of a growing concern about the safety of food products imported into the U.S.

Contaminated Food in China
Christopher McNally, a political economist who studies China's transition to capitalism, says food contamination is an old problem for the Chinese.

Guests:

Commentary: Kitchen Gadget Makes it Easier to Taste Home
A special, high-power variant of the blender lets cooks like Thy Tran grind the hard spices that are the foundation of South Asian cuisine.

Chinese Food Through the Eyes of a Novelist
The concepts of taste and home are at the heart of the new novel by Nicole Mones, "The Last Chinese Chef." Mones writes for Gourmet Magazine and is the author of two previous books set in China, where she first arrived just after the end of the Cultural Revolution to set up a small textile business.

Guests:

Extended Interview: Nicole Mones
Hear a longer, online-only version of the interview with author Nicole Mones.