I read a story in the Oregonian a couple of weeks ago that just gave me chills. China not only worry on imported food by By TRACI CARL of The Associated Press.
Here’s how it began…
“MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican cantaloupe irrigated with water from sewage-tainted rivers. Candy laced with lead. Chinese toothpaste is not the only concern for U.S. consumers wary of the health risks posed by imported goods.
“Producers in other developing nations are big violators of basic food safety standards, even as they woo consumers with a growing appetite for foods like pickled mangoes from India and winter-season fruits and vegetables from Mexico.”
Here’s the worst part…
“China, already under suspicion as the source of tainted toothpaste, contaminated fish and toxic medicine, had the largest number of violations in the past 12 months, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejecting 1,901 shipments of food or cosmetics. But India and Mexico weren’t far behind, with inspectors rejecting 1,787 and 1,560 shipments, respectively.
“The biggest reasons? Foods that are unapproved or contain poisons and pesticides. Some are simply dirty, with inspectors finding that the shipment “appears to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or be otherwise unfit for food.”
“And those are just the problems that are caught. FDA inspectors only have the money and resources to check about 1 percent of the 8.9 million imported food shipments a year. Many of those inspections target problem products from problem nations, like Indian relishes or Mexican cantaloupe.”
After reading the story in entirity about foods coming in from third world countries, with only a minute fraction being examined at the borders and being declared as putrid – which includes China, I examined a garlic bulb I had just purchased from Trader Joe’s, and – yup – sure enough – it came in from China. Right into the trash with ya, Buddy! (I have low tolerance for bad food of any kind going into my body, and this bulb wasn’t even fit for my compost pile!)
And now, hearing that Fisher Price is recalling toys that were made in China that contain lead – headed for babies who put everything in their mouths, I’m given pause to think… China’s on the move, entering the world wine market… With no regulations for purity, what are they going to be exporting?
Not in my back yard, Mister!
The more we outsource, unless we know that we’re buying something of high quality standards, perhaps we should consider sticking with Made in America? The price may be higher in the short run, but that’s only in the short run. When you think of the medical costs at a later date for cancer treatments, the initial savings isn’t really a savings at all…
Recent Comments