"Plasticizing agent harmless" Professor does not change the point of view

The Peking University professor Li Keji who published the “plasticizer and melamine harmless” statement at the Moutai press conference received an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency’s “China Net Affairs” reporter on the 14th. He said he can apologize to the public but still insists on himself. The point of view, and responded to the netizens questioned why they boarded the Maotai press conference and whether there was a fee or a replacement fee.

Li Keji believes that the Ministry of Health issued in 2011 the "General Office of the Ministry of Health on Reporting the Maximum Residues of Phthalates in Food and Food Additives" No. 551 stipulates that the maximum residue of DEHP (plasticizer) is 1.5 mg. /kg, This document is a very rough reference. It is unscientific to define different products with a numerical value, or it is scientifically limited. For plasticizer content standards, the country should establish specific standards.

For melamine, Li Keji insisted that melamine is basically a non-toxic substance, but according to the individual differences and the size of the ingestion dose, it will have different effects on different groups of people. Judging from the actual ingested dose, melamine did not produce toxic effects in adults. He also said that in recent years, people in the industry have always had different views on the over-sensitivity of the public to melamine.

Li Keji said that he has publicly published these opinions on many occasions before, and that he is based on his understanding of relevant policies and his own scientific level. However, due to information asymmetry and the lack of communication channels, which led to misleading the public, he expressed that he could apologize to the public.

Responding to the public's three questions

Question 1: As a university professor, why did you climb onto the stage of public relations in Maotai crisis?

Li Keji said that the person in charge of the Chinese Liquor Industry Association invited him to attend a seminar. He hoped that he would convey objective and comprehensive information as an expert. "I didn't know in advance that there were media reporters." Li Keji said.

Question two: Is there a replacement fee?

Li Keji said that because he was attending the seminar, he did not receive any compensation.

Question three: Is there an endorsement for the company?

Li Keji said that his original intention at the meeting on the 12th was to tell the public that there was no need to make himself too nervous and that he should not be too sensitive to food safety issues. He denied questioning Maotai.

He also said that he has always been this point of view: "So far, no human trials have shown whether plasticizers are harmful to the human body."