Thank you Laura for quoting the paragraph of my original post that really does cut to the heart of the matter, and thank you starrvox for clarifying your comment.

What we’ve learned through this tragedy, among other things, is that things are not often as they appear. All of those premium-brand foods that were recalled, for example, which were supposed to be “better” for your pets and made from the “best” ingredients, and the items that were recalled even though the suspect ingredients IN THE FORMULAS weren’t on their labels — we’ve realized that we cannot accurately judge anything because we simply do not have the information we should have. (Thanks, manufacturers! Thanks, FDA!)

My only point in posting is that, similarly, what is behind the scenes at, say, a Chinese restaurant is unknown. And the reputation of their suppliers is unknown. And honestly, if you think about it, when we choose to dine out, it’s the same story no matter what restaurant we choose. So to say one would avoid Chinese restaurants seemed like a not-entirely well-thought-out comment. (I appreciate the clarification about the box labels, though.)

I don’t think it’s wrong or necessarily racist to be wary of food products that come from China right now, given their more relaxed food production standards and, now, proof by way of this pet food tragedy and the stories we’ve seen about food import inspections.

I just objected to the idea of some sort of boycott of Chinese restaurants because it would be the owners and employees of those restaurants who would unjustly feel the economic impact; and these folks are in many if not most cases, naturalized American citizens or at least legal residents working very hard, night and day in fact, to make a living in the country they or their parents chose to make home. The restaurant business is not a hugely profitable one, especially if you’re running an independent mom-and-pop sort of joint, which is what most Chinese restaurants are.

So, it alarmed me to see the sort of comment that made it seem as if just because a restaurant is Chinese-themed it is automatically declared unsafe, especially when, as Laura illustrated by quoting that paragraph about Applebee’s (which is just a totally random example! nothing against Applebee’s! I have no info about Applebee’s but thought their name would be recognizable to most people), pretty much ANY restaurant you go to is just as likely to be serving dishes made from imported foods.

Sorry, didn’t mean to single you out - I was replying more to JM Leong’s comments about how he felt about your comment.

You’re right to be worried. I’m finding it an unpleasant experience just to walk into the grocery store these days, because I’m no longer blissfully ignorant about what might be IN what I’m buying for my two and four-legged family.

But Leong had a good point: [quote]
“Other (non-Chinese) restaurants are just as likely to import fresh and frozen goods from foreign countries which is to say that at MOST restaurants, no matter their “theme,” probably some of their ingredients are U.S.-grown and some are imported. I mean, your local Applebee’s could well be using the same supplier for, say, carrots as does your local Chinese restaurant.”

And as I said in response, there is clearly a problem with China’s government - its regulation of food, its treatment of pets, AND its (lack of) cooperation with this case. But those aren’t things the average Chinese citizen gets much say in.

But more than a few folks here have said some pretty negative, occasionally inflammatory things about the “Chinese.” I just don’t think that’s fair, and I’m glad Leong spoke up.

Ariana Eunjung Cha from The Washington Post
thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

JM Leong and Laura,
no, no - my post about not wanting to eat at the Chinese Buffet had nothing at all to do with suggesting that I am boycotting people simply for being Chinese.
Nowhere in my post did I state anything close to suggestion that Chinese people are “bad” (as Laura put it.)
We have 2 Asian- American friends who both own thriving Chinese restaurants, I am sure they are as appalled and concerned as we are about this whole thing.
My comment referred to the practice of Chinese restaurants importating food products (as I have seen during deliveries at the buffet - a lot of the boxes have Chinese writing and are stamped “Imported Product of China)

I live in Philadelphia which has one of the biggest Asian populations in our country.
If you walk through our Chinatown restaurant area, you can see tons of these imported food product boxes all over the streets.

This pet food tragedy has opened our eyes to the dangers of this food importation practice.

Reports such as this have come to our attention:
APRIL 26, 2007
AP
More than 50 children were poisoned by a kindergarten breakfast in central China, state media said today, in the latest case highlighting problems in the country’s food supply chain.
Mass poisonings are common in China, which has been struggling to improve a dismal food safety record.
***Manufacturers often mislabel food products or add illegal substances to them.***

Google “food poisoning china”, you will see what I mean.

We didn’t even realize the scope of it ourselves until my husband suggested we go to our “regular” haunt (the buffet) for dinner last night.
The thought was suddenly un-appetizing and
not because of the fact that the restaurant was owned and operated by “bad” Asian-Americans.

That is ridiculous.

Imported food additives are my concern here.

I certainly did not mean to offend anyone or hint at a boycott of hard working Asian-American people with Asian heritages. If they are caught in this then indeed, they too are victims.
I just don’t wish to walk any further into the fire than I and my pup and 2 kitties already have.

Now we know!

Now we know!

http://tinyurl.com/32h6lr

Blue Buffalo recalled more products this Friday morning as well, it’s on ITCHMO.com