Pfizer is sponsoring a new ad campaign to illustrate the dangers of counterfeit medication. The danger jauntily illustrated here - pills made of rat poison. Yum.
realdanger.co.uk | The real danger of counterfeit medicines
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Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Food for Thought
Examples of counterfeit goods abound, as readers of this blog will note. Now, counterfeiters have set their sites on another target: food. As this article by Katye Martens in the USA Today demonstrates, it is often easy for a food supplier to dilute or lie about a food's content. Examples include using farm-raised salmon as a cheaper substitute for wild salmon, dilution of olive oil with soybean oil or other kinds of oil, and using cane sugar as a substitute for honey.
It's fraud, plain and simple. Fortunately, law enforcement resources are somewhat more abundant in this area, as laws against fake "adulterated" food are enforced by the stern folks at the Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, adulteration of food is a serious problem. Read the whole thing.
UPDATE: Environmental Blogger Verda Vido expands on the USA Today article here. She cites the U.S. Food and Drug Administration resources to help determine whether the fish you buy is fake, which can be found here and here. She also provides other helpful links to help determine the purity of honey (very useful) as well as certified suppliers for olive oil, maple syrup and honey. And last but not least, she links to an authentic homebrew recipie for the otherwise frequently faked vanilla extract. Good stuff. Check it out if you get the chance.
It's fraud, plain and simple. Fortunately, law enforcement resources are somewhat more abundant in this area, as laws against fake "adulterated" food are enforced by the stern folks at the Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, adulteration of food is a serious problem. Read the whole thing.
UPDATE: Environmental Blogger Verda Vido expands on the USA Today article here. She cites the U.S. Food and Drug Administration resources to help determine whether the fish you buy is fake, which can be found here and here. She also provides other helpful links to help determine the purity of honey (very useful) as well as certified suppliers for olive oil, maple syrup and honey. And last but not least, she links to an authentic homebrew recipie for the otherwise frequently faked vanilla extract. Good stuff. Check it out if you get the chance.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Truth in Numbers
Numbers are often a matter of interpretation. An increase in crime statistics, for example, might actually be good news if the statistics reflect increased enforcement and not increased criminal activity. Whether yesterday's released numbers on counterfeit seizures in the United States reflect better enforcement or a worsening counterfeit flood will require some digging, but the volume is staggering and a bit grim. According to the Associated Press, the United States Government seized over $270 million in counterfeit and pirated goods in 2008. These numbers represent a staggering 38% increase over 2007 numbers. Richard Rocha, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and apparently an optimist, credited improved law enforcement collaboration for the increase in counterfeit seizures.
Shattered
Some sad news earlier this week for lovers of fine china: Waterford Wedgwood - the makers of luxury crystal and glassware products - has filed for bankruptcy protection. Citing the current economic climate and credit crunch as the reasons for taking this action, Waterford Wedgwood has taken vowed to continue operations while seeking a buyer. No doubt, the company's 7,700 employees worldwide cannot feel too comfortable with this vow in a climate like the present.
Like many companies going out of business, Waterford Wedgwood has been the target of counterfeiters who could foist fake glass and crystal to the public. In good times, counterfeiters are an expensive nuisance to companies like Waterford Wedgwood. Not only do counterfeiters cost companies sales, but companies also must enforce their brand by hiring investigators and lawyers to go after the counterfeiters. These actions can typically cost a company like Waterford Wedgwood tens of thousands of dollars each year. And if companies don't spend this money, counterfeiters can then counterfeit with impunity, decreasing profit margins even more. In the current economy, careers can be as fragile as crystal. For Waterford Wedgwood's employees, the nudge from counterfeiters could leave their jobs and lives shattered.
Like many companies going out of business, Waterford Wedgwood has been the target of counterfeiters who could foist fake glass and crystal to the public. In good times, counterfeiters are an expensive nuisance to companies like Waterford Wedgwood. Not only do counterfeiters cost companies sales, but companies also must enforce their brand by hiring investigators and lawyers to go after the counterfeiters. These actions can typically cost a company like Waterford Wedgwood tens of thousands of dollars each year. And if companies don't spend this money, counterfeiters can then counterfeit with impunity, decreasing profit margins even more. In the current economy, careers can be as fragile as crystal. For Waterford Wedgwood's employees, the nudge from counterfeiters could leave their jobs and lives shattered.
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