Products made in China are cheap through the exploitation of the workforce. Every time we shop, we are driving the nail further into the coffin of American manufacturing jobs. ~Joe Baca
I’m done with China. I’m done with anything made in China. I’m done. Seriously, this will make you cringe.
All week Teenie has been bugging me to go to Michael’s Craft Store because she wanted to buy some pussy willow branches. I’m linking Michael’s Craft Store because they should be absolutely ashamed to be a part of this story…ASHAMED!
Since all four of us needed things we decided to go out together and stop at several different stores. Once we were all in Michael’s Craft Store we separated. Dude was with the girls and I went off on my own.
I found a great Disney scrapbook I can use for our trip and God help me, I just became one of those scary scrapbooking mothers. WTF?
As I was saying…
Michael’s Craft Store doesn’t sell real pussy willow branches grown right here in the United States however they have horrible, plastic, fake reproductions made in China. That’s right, we have to import pussy willow branches that look bad. My daughter was crushed but that’s not the bad part of this story.
Teenie found some stickers that she wanted and Dude took her to the cashier. As they stood in line she saw all of the “impulse” items. You know, all that little crap you don’t need but grab just because you are standing in line. Well Michael’s Craft Store, a craft store, sells candy. It’s not candy you can use for crafting either but crap candy made in China.
China. Candy made in China. Except Dude didn’t realize the candy our eight year old daughter chose was made in China until we were in the car and I started the Spanish Inquisition.
She started spraying liquid into her mouth and I was like, WTF?
“TEENIE! What do you HAVE???”
“Fruitt Squirt, Mommy…you squirt it!”
“Teenie, gimme that NOW!”
So, I discovered it was made in China but that wasn’t the worst thing. The ingredient warning was the most alarming.
Allergy information: This product may contain traces of dairy, egg, gluten, soy, peanuts, treenuts, fish and seed.
Back the truck up. FISH? FISH in candy? Chinese fish in my child’s candy? Chinese eggs in my child’s candy? Seeds??? Seeds in liquid spray candy?
Where the hell are they making this crap that there could possibly be traces of fish, eggs and seeds in a fruit flavored spray candy? I totally flipped out and threw a fit in the car.
When we got home I went to the web site listed on the label and damn near had a seizure. Kids Brands Inc. distributes this crap not only to Michael’s Craft Store but to Toys R Us too. Someone needs to choke the crap out of the webmaster of Kids Brands Inc. Please tell me you didn’t come close to having a mental breakdown too.
Meanwhile, I had to break Teenie’s heart by taking her candy away and giving her $2.oo back.
Her response was classic, “I hate China!”
I told her that “hate” is a very strong word and emotion and she said,
“Well I’m never buying anything made in China ever again!!!
She may be eight, but she’s very wise. Imagine if we all followed her lead…
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Karen Sugarpants 04.20.08 at 11:40 pm
God that pisses me off. Our family has banned everything Made in China. EVERYTHING. It isn’t easy, let me tell you.
S 04.20.08 at 11:46 pm
I never thought much about the prevalence of “made in China” until my nephew was born in November 2006. My sister was appalled at how many baby items were made in China. In some instances, non-Chinese-made substitutes were almost impossible to find; in others, simply much more expensive.
I have tried to be more mindful myself since then and avoid “made in China” products.
Ss last blog post..Quick weight loss
Lisa 04.21.08 at 12:14 am
Karen, I agree…it is NOT easy to do. If it’s not made in China then it’s made in Vietnam or Mexico. I refuse to eat food made in China. I don’t even want tea from China.
S, I’ve tried to be mindful as well and I feel like I’m selling my soul to the devil every time I buy something made in China but it’s almost unavoidable.
ocb 04.21.08 at 12:21 am
wtf kinda candy do you spray into your mouth anyway lol. bleh. Glad you caught it!
ocbs last blog post..Because we can!
Yvonne 04.21.08 at 12:23 am
I try to avoid anything made in china at all costs.
But it is hard. I was shocked at those ingredients.
HOW SAD!
Colin Brooks 04.21.08 at 1:31 am
It would be great if we could all stop buying stuff made in China but I don’t think it’s possible. Almost everything sold consists of at least one thing made in China. From packaging to the actual product.
I don’t see a way out but we can make better choices.
Also, FISH??? What the flying fart?!
Colin Brookss last blog post..going back in time with mondayz tunez #22
mo 04.21.08 at 4:25 am
The problem with an actual boycott of Chinese products is the US is entirely dependent on China for money. The US has literally mortgaged the country to China to finance the deficit and to pay for the war.
It’s quid pro quo. If America stops importing Chinese products China will stop investing in the US. Without Chinese investment the US would have to declare bankruptcy. The present banking crisis would seem like a silly blip compared to what would happen if China decided to call in all their loans and reinvest in another country.
You will never to see any governmental changes in Chinese imports despite their horrific safety issue.
Lisa 04.21.08 at 7:13 am
ocb, The fact that she was spraying was what clued me in that something was wrong.
Yvonne, It’s really hard to avoid things made from China but food? Oh, food is something I’m really wary of. The ingredient warning was horrendous.
Colin, I think you are right about it being impossible but fish in candy is astounding.
Lisas last blog post..Why Teenie Hates China
Karl 04.21.08 at 8:37 am
OK, sprayable fish candy? Blecch. I hate fish. Also not a fan of China, but these days it’s increasingly difficult to find products NOT made there.
Rachel 04.21.08 at 12:05 pm
Good for YOU for reading the label. More parents should take your lead!
And you wanted to know what lessons to teach your children. You just taught your daughter a very valuable one!
that girl 04.21.08 at 1:37 pm
well, two of my kids were made in China (adopted) and I think a little tolerance *might* be in order?
I agree — I wouldn’t want my kids to eat that. But do we have to teach our kids that any other country sucks?
Just my two cents.
that girls last blog post..Scrapbooks Please
Lisa 04.21.08 at 8:39 pm
Karl, I’m not a fan of products made in China because I don’t feel that they are regulated enough for safety. We have a big problem in the United States with safety regulation of imported products. If the government isn’t going to step in then as a parent I will.
Rachel, One of the lessons I’ve been trying to teach my children is to be smart consumers. It’s a battle when I’m up against my husband who isn’t as diligent about it as I am. I’m hoping he also learned a lesson.
that girl, I was prepared for a comment just like yours and you are totally missing the point of my post. I’m not condemning adopted children from China. In fact I spent my entire senior semester last October studying China and the oppression of Chinese citizens for my senior project and I was also the leader for that project.
I commend you on saving your two children from what would have been an extremely difficult life had they stayed in a Chinese orphanage. One of my friends has adopted three children from China and with each adoption the process has become increasingly difficult. I wish for her and thousands of other loving families that China wouldn’t make it so hard or so expensive.
All of that being said let’s look at the issue I’m talking about. I’m talking about products made in China. The candy that Teenie sprayed in her mouth was horrifying to me, a parent. When my daughter shouted, “I HATE CHINA!” we had a discussion about “hate” and why it would be wrong to generalize such an emotion towards an entire country. That’s why I said “hate is a very strong word and emotion”.
I’d like to consider myself a pretty responsible parent because we had a discussion about the safety of what we eat, where it comes from and a fair discussion about China. As much as you can have with an eight year old.
I’m very proud that I am raising two children who have patience and tolerance for all people no matter who they are.
ben 04.21.08 at 10:28 pm
Chinese people flock from the farmlands to the cities in order to live a better life working 80 hours a week in a factory that produces toys, candy, and everything else the world demands. To Americans, who are extremely rich compared to the rest of the world, that is called exploitation. To them it is living the dream.
Good luck on your treatment. Three times is insane. Your friend, Nina, is money.
bens last blog post..T Minus Four Days
Mishka 04.22.08 at 10:38 am
I don’t try to avoid Chinese products as a rule but I am wary of things when they come out on a recall list just like I am with any products from any place, including the US.
The warning was probably because they make the candy in the same factory that they make lots of other food products and they have to warn people who have severe allergies if there might be traces of something from just using the same equipment.
I don’t necessarily agree with China’s policies or govt but I don’t go out of my way to avoid their products unless something has been reported specifically to be causing a problem.
Mishkas last blog post..Flowers
jane 04.23.08 at 4:26 am
I have this conspiracy theory about how China is going to conquer the USA. I mean, they already own us, but physically conquer. I think they’re going to poison us via the lead in their products & ingredients in edible items. Sure, it might not be arsenic, but it could have disease causing material in it.
I like Chinese people. I don’t like China’s gov’t, nor do I trust them. I am infuriated with our gov’t for literally selling our country to China & for making us so damn dependent on them.
I have tried boycotting them & you’re right, it’s almost impossible. Too bad there wasn’t a countrywide movement to start making products in America again & only buy those products.
/jumps off soapbox
janes last blog post..
she 04.23.08 at 8:27 am
Disgusting! I’m SOOOOO glad you had time to take a look at the label. WHY are we so dependent on China for everything? WHY don’t store buyers do actual research on what they’re stocking the shelves with? Makes me sick.
jester 04.25.08 at 3:53 am
Wanna know the NUMBER ONE way you can stop supporting China?
STOP SHOPPING AT WAL-MART.
Walmart gave China our engineering and manufacturing jobs and is the single biggest importer of Chinese products.
You have to realize that a $2.74 dvd player must in some way exploit Chinese workers, or be loaded with enough poisonous chemicals to wipe your family out in the time it takes to watch that $4.99 copy of “Barney and Friends.”
jesters last blog post..Silence + The Show with Shiny