6 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Ok, here's the deal.
Chicken's are born/raised in the US.
Then they're shipped to China for processing for everything from soup, to nuggets (fast
food joints) pot pies, cat/dog food..................
and then shipped back to the US for consumption.

Beyond the added emissions of the shipping, and the job losses to American workers;
China has a lousy track record when it comes to processing foods.
They have no agencies that oversee their production like USDA or FDA.

Our government is trying to sweeten the deal of China buying our beef exports by allowing this;
but the possibilities of contamination are huge.
China has said no to beef because of mad-cow scares in the UK. (Like we have control
over what they do)

The kicker?
There are no laws on the books about food labeling about where a food product
is processed.
It could be processed anywhere in the world but it will still say
country of origin as the US.

(Just like  food products born/raised in Canada, for example would still
say country of origin-Canada even though it may be processed off-shore)

They're saying- "No worries, only a small percentage will be processed this way."

(I don't agree. I believe we have to be concerned about this; and it should be stopped.)

I'm sure everyone has read the news about Melamine in pet food; you know, the
plastic they make plates and cups from? Omg.
And back in March of this year, 11,000 dead pigs were floating dead in a river.
Hello?

“Even though we’re going to be shipping our poultry to China,
there’s no guarantee that that’s what we’re going to be getting back,”
Tony Corbo, a lobbyist with Washington-based Food & Water Watch,
said in a phone interview.
“There are all sorts of consumer right-to-know issues going on here.”
Source

Jerky treats killed almost 600 pets in the US; product of China.
http://www.fda.gov/f...s/ucm371413.htm

China's previous record on melamine in baby formula.
http://www.fda.gov/N...s/ucm179005.htm

They added it to products because it can "appear to be higher in protein" from tests.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine

Considering all that; do we want our chickens processed by a country that has a history
of food contamination just for the cheap labor?

[Besoeker]

Sounds horrible.
I suppose the obvious answer is to avoid processed meat products. Or any processed foods for that matter.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Besoeker, on 14 December 2013 - 07:55 AM, said:

Sounds horrible.
I suppose the obvious answer is to avoid processed meat products. Or any processed foods for that matter.

Agreed but how many people will question the ingredients in their soup-
their cat and dog food-
their mc chicken nuggets? They think mc's can do no wrong-
ground up sludge they call baby food?
It has to stop. The USDA and FDA are screwing up big time allowing this.

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 14 December 2013 - 03:38 PM, said:

Agreed but how many people will question the ingredients in their soup-
their cat and dog food-
their mc chicken nuggets? They think mc's can do no wrong-
ground up sludge they call baby food?

Interesting question.
I'm pretty ancient. I predate most of the processed foods so I don't suppose I was fed them as a baby.
They were around when my children were babies but we chose not to.

I think people are becoming more aware, maybe more educated about what they eat and feed their children.
We have a bunch of grand children. The closest two, both girls, are a 200 mile round trip but we get to keep them for a week at a time. The younger sister is just coming up for two. She has a healthy appetite and eats anything put in front of her. She likes porridge for breakfast. Lots of it!

In short, the two wee girls eat the same food Mrs B puts on the table for us as adults. They have not grown up with processed food. And maybe that's a generation/education thing.

Maybe we are getting better at that. There have been a few food scares/scandals here in UK in recent years. Horse meat in ready meals labelled as beef. Possibly a wake up call about processed foods.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Besoeker, on 14 December 2013 - 06:46 PM, said:

I think people are becoming more aware, maybe more educated about what they eat and feed their children.

Maybe, sort of, sometimes, seldom.

You and your family are aware and that's great, but what goes into products?
Do people know?
Most consumers are either unaware, or don't have the facts because they are impossible to know.
Related-
http://www.altenergy...with-chemicals/

http://www.altenergy...s-consequences/

http://www.altenergy...o-labeling-law/

Honestly, the only reason I know about this new proposal about processing chicken in China is because
Dr. Oz spoke about it on his show.
I don't eat chicken products (soups and such) but my cats do via their canned food.
Imo, America's trust in food safety is going, if not already gone.
(From one ancient to another)

[Besoeker]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 15 December 2013 - 04:40 AM, said:

Maybe, sort of, sometimes, seldom.

You and your family are aware and that's great, but what goes into products?
Do people know?

Do they give any serious thought to the process that gets food on to their plates?
Or their fast food boxed meal?
Do they care?

I think indifference is more to the point than ignorance.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Besoeker, on 15 December 2013 - 09:01 AM, said:

Do they give any serious thought to the process that gets food on to their plates?
Or their fast food boxed meal?
Do they care?

I think indifference is more to the point than ignorance.

That's why we're here; to shed light on these practices and all the other non-sustainable goings-on; whether
it's food, energy, transportation or lifestyles.

(So what should we call an ignoramus that's indifferent? Tool, dolt, simpleton, or just loser?)