When Fakery Turns Fatal

In Wudi in eastern China, a few companies tried to save money by slipping the industrial chemical melamine into pet food ingredients as a cheap protein enhancer, helping incite one of the largest pet food recalls ever.

The incidents are the latest indications that cutting corners or producing fake goods is not just a legacy of China’s initial rush toward the free market three decades ago but still woven into the fabric of the nation’s thriving industrial economy. It is driven by entrepreneurs who are taking advantage of a weak legal system, lax regulations and a business culture where bribery and corruption are rampant.

But the discovery of dangerous ingredients in foods and drugs has raised serious questions.

One such operation is centered in Wudi, about five hours southeast of Beijing. This is where the trail of the American pet food recall leads.

To read the rest of the New York Times story, click here.