A year ago, we had barely landed in Shanghai when one of the first pieces of advice we got was "don't drink the local milk". Initially we tried to figure out why and often wondered if it actually was an old wives tale or if it had anything to do with questionable methods used to kickstart a dairy industry that didn't exist ten years ago.

Now the latest is that all local dairy products (milk, yogurt, ice cream) are showing traces of melamine. I'm relieved that we took that initial advice and started buying Australian milk for the kids so our exposure should me minimal. However, it makes me angry that the problem was known for months and even as of yesterday, the grocery stores were still selling all the local brands found to have melamine. Most appalling is that there was a firesale of the tainted milk powder a day before it was officially recalled - stores trying to minimize financial losses I assume. The only shelves that are now empty are those reserved for the imported milk brands that the foreigners are hoarding.      

If there is anything good about this it is that there has been surprisingly extensive news about the contamination in the local media. More information has been made available than ever before in similar circumstances. 

Still, I just can't help but to wonder "what's next"?