Unsafe Drugs: China Food and Drug Administrator Sentenced to Death

China is working to cut back on corruption in its government. Case in point: China has sentenced its 62-year-old former head of the food and drug administration to death for allegedly taking bribes. Zheng Xiaoyu will be the first senior Chinese official to face the death penalty in seven years.

Death Penalty for Chinese Executive

Zheng is believed to have taken up to $850,000 in bribes during his tenure at the food and drug administration, from 1998 to 2005. Under Zheng's watch, dozens of people in China died from fake or bad drugs and food products. Citizens in Beijing said of Zheng's conviction: 'The damage that his corruption has brought is much worse than that caused by a dealer who sells fake drugs. The harm he has caused affects more people and brings more damage... Fake drugs can't cure diseases, instead they make things worse. Young people may be strong enough to recover, but I am afraid it could be fatal to old people."