Starbarks

​September 18: after more than 48 hours without a latte, I am finally able to locate a Starbucks by asking at a tourist information kiosk that is manned by 9 young volunteers crammed into a structure about 2 metres by 2 metres. They eagerly point me to the nearest “Starbarks” which is mercifully only 1/2 a block away in the basement of a shopping centre.

September 19: return to Starbucks only to be told that they do not have any milk products at all. How could an international company like Starbucks not have access to milk? Puzzling and extremely disappointing. Conveniently it is still September 18th in Saskatchewan so the kids Skype Granny to wish her happy birthday.

September 20: Starbucks once again offers latte made with soy milk. We learn that Starbucks was one of the first companies to pull their milk products in response to a revelation that some milk and milk products in China contain melamine (the same substance that was found in pet food earlier this year). Melamine enhances the protein content of milk, making it appear to contain more protein than it actually does. In other words, the milk is diluted.

Unfortunately melamine can cause kidney stones in young children with repeated exposure. The Canadian media reports that there are now 150 babies in critical condition from melamine exposure in China and 6,000 who are ill. The Chinese government claims that this is a short term problem with a few small diaries being responsible. Some tainted milk products have been marketed in Canada!