Reading food labels won’t help if the labels lie
By Gina Spadafori
November 23, 2008
Hat tip to Terrierman this morning for making me extremely happy that everything I will eat today came from the local organic farmer’s market, my own garden or my own hens. From the Center for Science in The Public Interest:
A new report from the Government Accountability Office gives federal food regulators failing marks when it comes to preventing false and misleading labeling.
The GAO report found that while the number of food firms and products has increased dramatically, the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight and enforcement efforts “have not kept pace.” The FDA is supposed to conduct label reviews when it inspects foreign food firms, but in 2007 only inspected 95 firms overseas (there are tens of thousands) and in only 11 countries (out of 150 that export food to the U.S.)
The pet food recall? Terrierman notes — and we’ve said it from Day One — it was the early warning of a food disaster to come. In the meantime, the Bush Administration lifted regulations on the filth discharged from factory farms as part of the dozens of thank-you notes to corporate interests the adminstration hustled to get into place before the new team comes in. Heckuva job, Georgie. Way to care about the people.
In the pet food industry several different companies found that the facility they contracted with was not making sure the bags actually contained only the ingredients they listed.
As a result you are seeing some label changes and changes to other facilities that are making the food.
Keep your eyes open for bag changes and price changes.
Comment by Diana L Guerrero — November 23, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
It should be against the law to sell toddler “fruit” snacks that are corn syrup and sugar!
Can’t say how happy I am that I no longer need to read labels for the most part. And after reading that CSPI article, I’m even more thankful for the holiday share our farmer made available. Nice big share that will last a bit :)
Comment by straybaby — November 23, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
FDA has zero tolerance for melamine in baby formula - right up until they actually FIND melamine in baby formula . . . . . . .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....46536.html
Comment by The OTHER Pat — November 25, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
I just wanted to give everyone a link about some melamine in baby food here in the US. On mail.com there is an article about melamine in baby formula here, and it is baby food made in the US. I’m wondering where the ingredients came from. But the FDA is trying to assure parents that there is no problem, because it is a small amount of melamine and cyanuric acid. Hmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it. Here is the link. I hope it works.
http://www.mail.com/Article.as…..ath=APNews\Health\20081127\Infant-Formula.xml&cat=health&subcat=&pageid=1
Comment by DJP — November 26, 2008 @ 9:17 pm