Posted on 07/14/2007 8:12:20 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
CBNNews.com - Concern about food made in China has the government there scrambling -- and many shoppers here in the U.S. confused.
With billions of food dollars at stake, serious damage control efforts are underway, both here and overseas.
Trusting his gut, Frank Davis of Utah added a label to the vitamins he makes, 100 percent China-free.
"I don't want to offend China," Davis said. "I'm just concerned about what's going into products, where it's coming from."
A new poll confirms his instinct, finding that 74 percent of grocery shoppers in the U.S. are concerned about food from China. And more than half say they're making an effort to buy American.
It's an image problem with high stakes. China exports close to $300 billion worth of products to the U.S.
But recently, it's been hit with safety problems -- everything from toothpaste to seafood.
Even an undercover video out today shows Chinese vendors soaking cardboard, and then mixing it with pork to sell in little buns.
Today, Chinese health officials announced re-vamped efforts to coordinate food safety, promising new laws.
But in the meantime, U.S. shoppers face new decision-making: like whether to go "China-free" --and how.
Jeffery Bader of the Brookings Institution said that could pose some problems.
"You probably wouldn't have a computer, you probably wouldn't have a television," he said. "You probably would be naked because your clothes probably come from China. Your shoes probably come from China."
Sara Bongiorni and her family tried to go completely China-free for a year. With 90 percent of toys made in China, that meant legos from Denmark for her kids and fewer tools for her husband.
She did get a book written from her experiences, along with a lot of stress.
"There's no way that, at least in our family, we could continue to live as we did," Bongiorni said. "It really did up-end our lives."
But with food safety at the top of the mind for so many right now, more families may try to at least cut back -- or make "buying American" a new-found reality.
Kudos to Frank. But frankly, I woudn't care a whit about offending those commie SOBs.
I went shopping tonight (single, no date) and had a heck of a time finding food not made in China. Even after all the hullaballoo over dog/cat food, most of the animal treats are made in China (pig ears, twists, little stick chewies).
I put back $20 of stuff at checkout, because it was either made in China or had no origin on it. And I won’t buy Tyson, either. I told the checkout woman about it, too. I wasn’t talking loudly, but there were others listening, too. I had been in a rush to finish, and hadn’t looked in the aisle.
China WILL get the message. I can’t afford to get sick, or have my dogs get sick. Vets and doctors are too expensive.
I stopped buying products made in china when I read the Washington Times article about them covertly supplying arms to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. The fact that their products are poison is just icing on the cake for me.
China is covertly supplying weapons to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070615/NATION04/106150051&SearchID=73285178202507
US concerns over China weapons in Iraq
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/82ce0740-2c03-11dc-b498-000b5df10621.html
Frozen monkfish from China recalled in 3 States
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275269,00.html
China shuts 180 food factories for chemicals used in products from candy to seafood
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19457564/from/RS.4/
450,000 light-truck tires made in China recalled after a fatal car accident
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062600394.html
Chinese Seafood Detained for Safety
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/06/28/ap3869422.html
Toxic Toothpaste Made in China Is Found in U.S.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/02/us/02toothpaste.html?ex=1183176000&en=561e92e855f78d28&ei=5070
Toys made in China are coated with lead paint that could lead to brain damage
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-toxictrain_23edi.ART.State.Edition1.4409eba.html
Filler in Animal Feed Is Open Secret in China
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/business/worldbusiness/30food.html?ex=1335672000&en=b143bd4a5d0684b6&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg
Made-in-China fears grip US
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070624/ts_afp/uschinatradefoodsafety_070624041713
I think that near the end the author is trying to confuse the issue by ridiculing the idea of going China free. Most of us aren’t concerned about Chinese tools or textiles. Those aren’t going to poison us. What we are concerned about and are actively trying to avoid are Chinese food products, vitamins and dishes and cookware, (lead poisoning hazard).
Anybody know the brand name of the China-Free vitamins?
Well, I just went to Wal-Mart and bought a new toilet seat made in China. Will my butt break off? ROFL
” Even after all the hullaballoo over dog/cat food, most of the animal treats are made in China (pig ears, twists, little stick chewies).”
I stopped buying the “Dingo” chews cause they are made in China and I went to a Tractor Supply near me instead of Wal-Mart to get chews and every damn one they had was made in China.
I told the lady at check out as I left about it and she even got pissed. I did however find a brand called “American Dog” that sells American Beefhide that is a peanut butter basted chew that my dogs love.
These stores will soon get the message if we make the effort to let them know money is not all we think about.
I’ve started hitting the local farmer’s market. Granted, I cook a lot from scratch. I also pay a little more, and I get everything but dairy at the market.
All of the farmers grow within 90 miles of my home and they are also the ones who sell it at the market. I can even get dog treats there.
There are days like these where the extra spent seems soooo much worth it.
I recently joined a food co-op program. It’s like a subscription to food. I pay a set fee of $10 a week and I get a collection of different things that were harvested that week. I don’t get to choose my mix, and as an exchange I get more food than $10 would normally by at the store. It certainly buys more than I’d get at the local hippy-mart too.
Good for you Judith ! We are at the start of an anti-Chinese import backlash .
Many Chinese made goods such as electronics , auto parts ,furniture, and clothing appear to be palatable to the U.S. consumer , but the imported food is going to prove to be non-negotiable .
I would be more than willing to pay a little extra for products made in the U.S. or Europe if given the choice , but sometimes there is no choice whatsoever .
Studies have shown that made in China shirts have never killed anybody.
The way I see it, unless flavored cardboard has killed people, I’d first try to
produce poison-free food products if I were China. What a concept. Food that doesn’t kill.
” but sometimes there is no choice whatsoever.”
Yes there is, there is the choice to not buy it and let it rot on the shelf. These stores will very quickly get the message and do their part to not poison their customers.
It’s not just food either, toothpaste, toys, 450,000 made in China tires recalled.....oh, and they are covertly supplying arms to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It’s Food for Health International based in Orem, Utah. For some reason, I can’t seem to find their website. Sorry.
Quite a few on google and yahoo.
Nope. Mine came from Honduras, India, or Indonesia.
With certain things there are no choice, but must be acquired nonetheless . I’ve found that to be the case with certain auto parts and certain electronics.
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