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Will import reform be real or just more PR?
By Gina Spadafori
September 17, 2007
The New York Times looks at the possibilities:
To allay rising fears over imported products, the Bush administration has issued a “strategic framework” for improving import safety. The 22-page document contains some sensible ideas that could, if vigorously carried out, help provide better control over the flood of goods and foods that enter this country from abroad.
Whether this is a genuine reform effort or mostly public relations will become clear in November when more detailed plans are released. The administration’s record provides grounds for skepticism.
[...]
The strategic plan is right to urge that the system be organized to identify products that pose the greatest risk, like those from a country with a record of exporting unsafe goods. It makes sound proposals for upgrading computers and devising new screening technologies.
What is worrisome is the administration’s reluctance to make any commitment to provide the additional money and staff that is needed. It has been cutting food inspection budgets and staff for many years, and it is fair to wonder how it will manage a far broader regime.
The new plan stresses the importance of cooperation with industry but leaves room to worry about officials’ willingness to get tough if voluntarism fails. Indeed, the document says the federal government lacks the resources to pursue legal action against all wrongdoers and will use targeted enforcement as a deterrent.
Sounds like more “heckuva job, Brownie” coming our way. Here’s the rest.
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On one of my discussion lists, a poster tells the following troubling story:
She had previously purchased some chicken jerky treats from Trader Joe’s, gotten them home, and discovered that they were labelled “Made in China”. So she returned them, telling the store why.
On a subsequent trip, she saw what appeared to be the same product, but now the label simply reads “Manufactured for and distributed solely by Trader Joe’s”. So it appears to her that Trader Joe’s response to consumer concerns over China-manufactured goods has been to simply remove the “Made in China” labels and replace them with “Distributed by Trader Joe’s” labels. She is concerned that this will be the new strategy employed by more and more retailers.
Have any of you noticed this going on - either at Trader Joe’s or at other retailers?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — September 17, 2007 @ 11:03 am
The OTHER Pat,
I am sure this will be the way many companies will respond to our concerns, and all we can do is to refuse to purchase items that do not clearly state the country of origin, and tell them why!
This sort of marketing ploy has been going on for years, and we can only expect it to get worse.
One label that particularly upsets me is the USDA inspected label on all meats in the grocery store. This leads most consumers to ASSUME that it is U.S. beef! Not only is this no assurance the meat is USA meat, only a small percentage of it is actually inspected!
In September 2008 mandatory COOL will take effect for all meat, veggies, fruit, and peanuts, but until then, we are at risk!
Comment by Elaine — September 17, 2007 @ 11:47 am
So now let’s start the work to get COOL in place for all prepared and processed foods and ingredients!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — September 17, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
I agree, Pat. When I found out the cooked seafood didn’t need to be labeled as to COOL, I realized this MUST be fixed!
Last night on the news they reported that ducks were dying in China, and showed the duck pens—suspended over ponds!! We know that fish for export are raised in ponds under poultry cages! Yuck!!
What is NOT dying in China from some disease or another? Pigs with Blue Ear, birds with Avian flu, etc. The awful thing is: we know they sell the sick critters to be butchered.
Comment by Elaine — September 17, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
I went to Whole Foods today to make sure the chicken I bought for dinner was from the U.S. A woman in line was buying liver for her cat. I think there will be a large change in buying habits and that we have started to see that happening. I have certainly had my eyes opened. My dog seems to have recovered from being deathly ill in January and February. She had liver involvement and the liver can regenerate unlike the kidneys. It is my opinion that acetominephen or some kind of glycol/antifreeze additive was to blame. When we went in the vet said poisoning. She got better on home made bland diet - then another attack when we added back her kibble and treats.
Comment by Kristi — September 17, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
The agreement is a fraud and a sham. FDA is cutting back on staff, the Administration is engaged in PR tricks. Did anyone see the clowns from the the Consumer Product Safety Commission testifying before Congress on lead in toys? It was disgraceful - we should be embarrassed as a nation that such political fools are running our consumer and food protection agencies.
Comment by MFEMFEM — September 17, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
I didn’t see the CPSC hearing, but received this link about it:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....ailarticle
Comment by straybaby — September 17, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
#Comment by straybaby — September 17, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
“I didn’t see the CPSC hearing, but received this link about it:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..ailarticle”
Nancy Nord is a real piece of work. It’s too bad most Americans aren’t exposed to her stupidity and antics for just 5 minutes - the entire country would understand what a national disgrace the Consumer Products Safety Commission has become and why Chinese lead paint is a staple of our childrens diets.
Comment by MFEMFEM — September 17, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Straybaby, thanks for posting that. what an eye opener. That’s just unbelievable. What a nut case.
Comment by Trudy Jackson — September 17, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
I read the article in the Washington Post. The sidebar photo tells the whole story. Forgive me for asking. How does someone get to this level of governance and be so clueless? What authority does Congress have over the CPSC? Time for a regime change in that fiefdom.
Comment by Lost for Words — September 18, 2007 @ 10:25 am
I found out that 35% of acetometiphen is made in China. I don’t doubt that somehow because of that it has ended up in our pet food. Why is this being kept from us? What else is being kept from us?
Comment by Concha Castaneda — September 18, 2007 @ 10:41 am