Recently, U.S. Republican Senator Rick Scott claimed that Chinese garlic poses a significant *** risk and wrote to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raimondo to express his concerns. He believes that there are sanitary problems with the production methods of garlic in China, so it poses a threat to the health and *** of the American people. He noted that China is the world's largest producer and exporter of garlic and accounts for a significant share of U.S. garlic imports each year. Much of his concern centers on China's use of human manure to fertilize garlic and stripping garlic roots before entering the U.S. market. Senator Scott argues that if garlic production is unhygienic, it has the potential to affect the food security of the American people, which in turn affects the nation's security and economic prosperity.
However, is such an accusation valid?We need to think carefully, look for evidence, and objectively assess whether this accusation is untenable.
Garlic is an important condiment and medicinal material in China, and it is also widely used in the world. China's garlic cultivation industry is developing rapidly, and both domestic and foreign markets are very optimistic about China's garlic products. However, the garlic production method mentioned by Senator Scott has caused widespread controversy.
According to Senator Scott's allegations, some cooking blogs, family magazines, and documentaries have shown unsanitary practices in the production of garlic in China, such as the use of human manure for fertilization and stripping of roots. These descriptions are quite powerful and have aroused people's attention and concern. However, we cannot draw conclusions based on these one-sided descriptions alone.
The Science and Society Office of McGill University in Quebec conducted an in-depth study of this and found no direct evidence that garlic is grown in China using human feces as fertilizer. In fact, the university noted in an article published in 2017 that both human and animal manure are effective and safe fertilizers that can be used to fertilize crops. While it doesn't sound very appealing, it's actually much safer than people think.
Therefore, we need to look at the controversy over the production method of garlic in China. In the absence of conclusive evidence, we cannot unreasonably conclude that Chinese garlic is produced in an unhygienic manner. This issue should be approached in a scientific manner and further investigation and research should be conducted.
Senator Scott mentioned that the integrity and safety of garlic is of paramount importance to the United States. He believes that if there is a food safety problem in the origin of garlic, it may endanger the economic and social prosperity of the United States, and even affect ***
Indeed, in a globalized world, food safety is not only about the health of individuals, but also about the stability and development of countries. For a country, ensuring the food safety of its people is one of the most important tasks.
However, on this issue, we need to think rationally and avoid over-exaggeration. Although food safety is a serious issue, the product of an entire country or region should not be characterized by one-sided accusations. Instead, we should apply the scientific method to conduct objective assessments and find solutions to problems to ensure the safety and quality of food.
U.S. Senator Scott's accusations have sparked widespread controversy and discussion, with laughter and disapproval. Such accusations are untenable, both from a scientific point of view and from the point of view of international relations.
First of all, regarding the production method of garlic in China, there is no conclusive evidence that it is unhygienic. Without adequate scientific research and investigation, we cannot blame China's garlic industry based on isolated reports alone. We should remain objective and look for more evidence and information to make judgments.
Second, in international relations, such accusations can easily breed misunderstandings and prejudices. In the context of globalization, economic cooperation and exchanges are the needs of the common development of all countries. Such accusations are not only detrimental to the friendly cooperation between China and the United States, but also easy to cause unnecessary friction and tension. Therefore, we should solve problems in a spirit of openness, inclusiveness and cooperation, rather than creating disagreements through unnecessary accusations.
All in all, the U.S. senator's accusation that Chinese garlic poses a *** risk is untenable. We need to maintain a rational and objective attitude, evaluate problems through scientific research and investigation, and take effective measures to ensure the safety and quality of food. China and the United States should address issues in an open and cooperative manner to jointly promote global food security and economic development.