Just when you thought it was safe
China quietly muscles in on the organic food market. Consumers turning to organic food in the wake of warnings about antifreeze-laden toothpaste, poisoned pet food, and antibiotic-laced fish may be in for a surprise. The same country blamed for those scares, China, is quietly muscling in on the organic market.Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.
...Upscale grocery chains like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods now import popular organic snacks such as edamame and canned staples such as kidney beans from China. That has made some buyers looking for pristine, all-natural food a bit skittish."A couple of months ago I was just eating some edamame from Trader Joe's because my nutritionist said they were a great source of protein," a science textbook writer from Los Angeles, Stephanie Anagnoson, said. "My husband noticed they were made in China and packed in China, and we both thought that was kind of bizarre. … It was at the same time that everyone began noticing that things coming from China are not necessarily what they seem - New York Sun
Oh, goody. Just in time....right when we need more safeguards.
F.D.A. inspections lax, Congress is told. According to testimony before a House subcommittee, exporters and importers have been able to bring tainted products into this country because the F.D.A. has neither enough resources nor inspectors to stop them. New York Times.
Labels: China, FDA, food safety, Organic
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Posted by Anonymous | Thu Jul 19, 01:19:00 AM
TJs is pretty good about labeling. Because they are good, I noticed that the organic black beans we were buying there were from China. I have been trying to buy food that travels as little as possible so I stopped buying them. This was before the food scare.
This brings up a point. How do we really know our food is up to the standards we hope it is? Not all countries have the same food standards we do. Our FDA is understaffed. Our food may not always be up to the standards we hope for.
It is smart to learn to cook and start buying local food. Make food that can be assembled from scratch with as few processed/canned food as possible.
I just wish SB was as agricultural as it used to be in the 60's and 70's. We can get a lot of things from our farmer's markets but it would be nice if the food had more of a grown here in the county presence.
Keep up the good blogging!!
Posted by Anonymous | Thu Jul 19, 02:48:00 PM
This is such an important thing to be aware of. I completely love mimi's comments...so true.
Posted by Anonymous | Fri Jul 20, 04:08:00 PM