"Made in China" Label Takes a Beating After Series of Product Scares

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EDITORIAL - It would not be fair to all of the good manufacturers in China to go into panic mode—compact fluorescents, as well as many other good products, are produced there—but the “Made in China” label is causing a lot of concern here in the United States. Almost every day there is a report about a new product recall. That’s what happens when there are insufficient safety regulations. Last week, Gilchrist & Soames, which supplies high-end toiletries to hotels, recalled its brand of toothpaste made in China. Why? Independent tests showed some samples of the toothpaste contained diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is used as a coolant in automobiles.

EDITORIAL - It would not be fair to all of the good manufacturers in China to go into panic mode—compact fluorescents, as well as many other good products, are produced there—but the “Made in China” label is causing a lot of concern here in the United States. Almost every day there is a report about a new product recall. That’s what happens when there are insufficient safety regulations. Last week, Gilchrist & Soames, which supplies high-end toiletries to hotels, recalled its brand of toothpaste made in China. Why? Independent tests showed some samples of the toothpaste contained diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is used as a coolant in automobiles.


Gilchrist & Soames did the right thing and acted swiftly but it is still a public relations mess. Earlier this year, gluten made in China and used in the manufacturing of pet food was found to include unsafe levels of melamine. Hundreds of animals died. Mattel just recalled about a million Fisher-Price toys because their paint contained high levels of lead. The metal was also found in vinyl baby bibs made in China and sold at Toys “R” Us and other stores. Johnson & Johnson just discovered that a distributor in China was selling counterfeit versions of its diabetes test kits. About 1 million phony test strips have turned up in 35 states. I could list many other examples.


It really is amazing how dependent we have all become on China. The lodging industry is no different. I had no idea how much furniture manufacturing has moved overseas until I conducted some research for an article on sustainable furniture. Last year, the United States lost almost half of its hospitality furniture production to Asia—mostly China. If you purchased furniture this year, there is a good chance it was not made in the United States. Why should you care?


Environment, Health & Safety


There are many reasons to be concerned about products manufactured in China or any other country where regulations are questionable.


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1. How do you really know the products are safe? If you bought furniture with exposed, painted metal, are you confident about the lead levels in that paint?


2. If a product includes finishes, foams and/or sealants, to what degree does it off-gas unhealthy emissions into the air? (Important in a guestroom environment where windows typically do not open.)


3. Do you know if the workers who made those products received a fair wage? Enough to support their families? What about working conditions? Were products made by children not old enough to legally work? Organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council provide lists of companies that supply chain of custody documentation to show production history.


4. What was the true environmental cost of the product that you purchased—once you factor in the miles traveled by the materials that went into that product and the miles traveled to get that product to you? Were sustainable materials used? Or, were they sourced from companies that log illegally or pollute the air?


It’s time we all start to ask more questions of our suppliers. Is getting a product at a lower cost always worth it? I don’t think so. Can you truly be a green hotel without knowing the real story behind what enters and leaves your property? No. The triple bottom line way of doing business—acknowledging impact on people, planet and profit—requires one to ask questions. Don’t assume that the products you purchase are safe—especially those made in countries where regulations are lax and human rights are not fully respected.


As always, I can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..