Professor's apology not for claiming toxin safe
By Xu Chi |
December 17, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A PROFESSOR of public health with Peking University who downplayed the dangers of plasticizers and melamine said he "still holds his ground" on his claims but wanted to apologize for "making the speech" , Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
The professor, Li Keji, sparked public anger after media reported he was invited to a press conference held by high-end liquor brand Maotai and claimed that plasticizers are not proven to be harmful to human health while adults can safely consume melamine, blamed for infants' deaths in a formula scandal in 2008.
"The human race has not gone extinct for several million years, which means that human beings have very powerful detoxifying abilities," he was quoted by Caijing.cn as saying at the conference.
Li was perceived as linked to a high-end liquor firm.
In an interview with Xinhua, Li denied accusations from netizens that he was paid by Maotai, saying he was invited by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association to attend a "seminar" and not paid.
He said he meant to tell the public that they don't have to be too stressed by the food safety scandals, and he said he would apologize to the public for the speech. But Li told Xinhua that "so far, there's no human experimentation to show whether plasticizers are harmful to health."
Quality watchdogs in Hunan Province said in November they detected plasticizers in samples of Jiugui liquor far above the national standard. The chemicals were described as harmful to male reproductive, digestive and immune systems. Maotai is separate from Jiugui brand, but there also have been media reports saying the chemicals can be found in most Chinese distilled liquor products.
The professor, Li Keji, sparked public anger after media reported he was invited to a press conference held by high-end liquor brand Maotai and claimed that plasticizers are not proven to be harmful to human health while adults can safely consume melamine, blamed for infants' deaths in a formula scandal in 2008.
"The human race has not gone extinct for several million years, which means that human beings have very powerful detoxifying abilities," he was quoted by Caijing.cn as saying at the conference.
Li was perceived as linked to a high-end liquor firm.
In an interview with Xinhua, Li denied accusations from netizens that he was paid by Maotai, saying he was invited by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association to attend a "seminar" and not paid.
He said he meant to tell the public that they don't have to be too stressed by the food safety scandals, and he said he would apologize to the public for the speech. But Li told Xinhua that "so far, there's no human experimentation to show whether plasticizers are harmful to health."
Quality watchdogs in Hunan Province said in November they detected plasticizers in samples of Jiugui liquor far above the national standard. The chemicals were described as harmful to male reproductive, digestive and immune systems. Maotai is separate from Jiugui brand, but there also have been media reports saying the chemicals can be found in most Chinese distilled liquor products.
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