China's ex-food-and-drug chief executed

BEIJING (AP) — China's ex-chief food-and-drug watchdog has paid the ultimate price for the country's tainted products scandal.

The former head of the state food-and-drug administration was put to death Tuesday, for taking bribes to approve an antibiotic blamed for at least ten deaths and other substandard medicines.

The death sentence was unusually heavy even for China, but it underscores the country's determination to confront its dire product safety record.

At a news conference to highlight efforts to improve the situation, a spokeswoman said corrupt officials are "the shame of the whole system and their scandals have revealed some very serious problems."

In the U-S earlier this year, pet food with ingredients from China was blamed for the deaths of numerous dogs and cats. And dozens of deaths in Panama were blamed on tainted medicine from China.