Trader Joe's & Chinese Seafood

[Geff]

I'm pasting my posts of 6/19 & 6/29 from the TJ's Pet Food section here as I feel they're of some importance.

6/19/07:

As an fyi I just called Trader Joe's. I've been eating their frozen Calamari & noticed it was made in China. I asked them if they have EVER tested the Calamari to see if there were any extra ingredients that the packer may not be admitting to. The rep tried really hard not to answer the question. She gave me a big song & dance about how they have used the same suppliers for years & required USDA standards.

I reminded her of their Pet Food recall. She denied that their ever was a recall!!! & stated that they had tested their pet food for the suspect ingredients because of being manufactured at "Menu West" & didn't find any poison.

I finally got her to admit that they had NEVER tested the Calamari in question.

Another store I've trusted in the past down the drain..............

BTW, they do NOT list their corporate phone # on their website (kinda like ebay). The # is 626-599-3700.

6/29/07:

I visited a Trader Joe's tonight (unfortunately, I think it will be the last time for quite awhile as I had several problems with them in addition to what I'm mentioning here).

I noticed (happily) that all Made In China frozen Seafood had been pulled & replaced with Russian & Canadian. I mentioned this to a clerk in a positive manner (i.e. glad TJ's was so on top of this, etc) . He immeadiately got defensive,  & tried to imitate what I now see is obviously the corporate line used by the Woman I spoke with at corporate on 6/19. Unfortunately (for him) , he wasn't as good a lier as her, & he kept stumbling; the only point he was able to make after I asked hadn't he seen or read any of the news reports on tainted Seafood from China was that TJ's was "different" & that they were a "health food store" & couldn't possibly be impacted.

I always thought I'd be a TJ's customer for life, but I've lost all trust in them; they're just another profiteering corporation covering their rears. All I can think is that they're afraid of a law suit if they admit to this; but I would think that UP UNTIL THIS COVERUP, they were likely victims as much as us. NO LONGER.

[Davis]

I can certainly understand how you feel Geff.  I think I would be really disgusted at the defensive attitude alone, even if not for the other things.  But I have to admit that I would be lost without Trader Joe's. I can get things there that I simply cannot get elsewhere, and the prices are hard to beat.  However, I shop very carefully there now, much more so than in the past.  After all, they are called "Trader" Joe's for a reason.  Let's face it, they deal in imports.  Some are fine, but some are not.  You really have to pay attention when you shop there.  They have had some human food recalls in the past.  As for trust, I don't think I trust anyone anymore, so whether it's Trader Joe's or the typical market, it's all the same these days.  What are we to do?  Maybe a small local market without the corporate attitude would be better, but there would be major sacrifices involved, and their foods may be questionable as well.

[Therese]

You know, it simply amazes me how anybody can say "we're different....we're safe!" Haven't the events of the past few months proven that no company is safe?! What I think is going on though is that those "we're different...we're safe" comments work on most people. We (the people on this board) are in the minority. We've been watching the recall like hawks since it started and we know things are pretty screwed up. There are a lot of people out there though who still believe the companies that make & sell food and our gov't have our best interest at heart and won't sell food to make us or our pets sick.