CNN.com has a whole section on Chinese import issues

[garypen]

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/news/made.in.china/index.html

[jenny]

Good link - thanks Gary.

[Davis]

Yes, thanks Gary.  That's a great resource.  It even included this link regarding something I had mentioned in a post recently.  I think this was an item that Trader Joe's pulled from its shelves.  "Trader" Joe's is a place to shop carefully.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/03/snack.recall.ap/index.html

[garypen]

I notice that their raw cashews are now "product of Vietnam". The last bag I bought was "product of China".

[garypen]

If you can't trust Fisher-Price, who can you trust?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070801/ap_on_bi_ge/toy_recall_16

Poisonous Chinese industrial additives. It's not just for pet food anymore!

[Geff]

Thanks for the link Gary. This is partially the Bush administration's fault, but from what I've read, they're only extempting 7 or 8 items from congress' labeling requirements. Congress needs to pass a comprehensive labeling bill.

[Davis]

I notice that their raw cashews are now "product of Vietnam". The last bag I bought was "product of China".

Did you eat the ones from China?  How long ago was it?  In the past, I have eaten lots of cashews from Trader Joe's, and from Costco.  The last ones were from Vietnam.  I hesitated to eat them.  I have since found that nuts are a common import, and lots are from China.  Other examples are peanuts, sunflower seeds , and even pine nuts.  Yes, expensive pine nuts, from China!  And watch those Asian snack mixes that are so popular.  Those are one of the worst.  They contain Chinese ingredients.  Flavored peanuts is another offender.   The safest seem to be almonds and pistachios, which are usually from California.

[Davis]

Poisonous Chinese industrial additives. It's not just for pet food anymore!

Was it ever?  This has been going on for a long time.  They are just now paying more attention.  I have never ever understood the insanity of banning things in this country and then importing them back in in the form of goods from other countries that are known to use them or have certain contamination problems (whether it's pesticides, chemicals, or environmental problems that are the culprit).  I understand the eoonmics of it, but it's still pure insanity.  It's a point of no return in a world gone wrong.

[Mary K]

Let's face it...you can't be 100% safe and sure unless you grow your own products. Trade has become so global, barely anything is purely from one source now. Then when you see a label "Product of" you really have to wonder! I wish this kind of effort and passion (for money) was put into global peace, but seems that trade contributes to warfare. We won't probably see a solution to it in our lifetime; it will take complete devastation before the problem is truly addressed. Meanwhile, everyone, do your best to "be the change". Put your dollars where they make a difference! And research, research, research!

[garypen]

Did you eat the ones from China?  How long ago was it? 

Once I noticed they were from China, I stopped buying them. But, my wife bought a bag last week. As I was about to yell at her, I noticed this bag was from Vietnam instead. When I told her it was only Vietnam and not China, she still refused to eat them.

[willyagogo]

Mary K...

Well put!!!....I couldn't have said it better!

The power must be taken away from these greedy "dirt-bags"!!!!!......and to do that, we have to start empowering ourselves.....and to continue doing it is even more important!

[Geff]

I'm feeling really frustrated on this subject today. As most of us know, we currently have no way to even know the source of what we're eating.

2 examples of my frustration during today's trip to 2 grocery stores:

1. I am craving fruit juice today. A local Krogers (Fred Meyer) had Dole's on sale. Noticed they all had apple juice concentrate (guess where that comes from!) A highend store did have local apple juice for $10 a gallon!

2. I was looking at the seafood counter at the same local high end grocer. I commented to the seafood clerk when je asked if he could get me something, "no, either it's from China or else i can't afford it". He laughed........... (with me i think)

[garypen]

If it was from China, I'll bet you a dollar that apple juice concentrate was just colored sugar water.

[Geff]

If it was from China, I'll bet you a dollar that apple juice concentrate was just colored sugar water.

Gary, you really think it's that healthy??!!

[Davis]

It might have been sweetened with antifreeze instead of sugar.  I just recently leaned that the majority of apple juice comes from China and I'm shocked.  Importing apple juice from China?  If I recall, Geff lives in Washington state.  How weird is it that someone who lives in the apple capital of the county has to buy apple juice from China?  What a shame.  And I love hot apple cider in the winter, but I will never have it again unless I've juiced the apples myself, or I know where it came from.