Is imported food safe?
This article appears today on FoxNews.com:
Lax Inspections Pose Risk for Contamination of Imported Foods, Experts Say
They report,
We decide
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7 Comments:
I wouldn't believe ANYTHING from Faux News.
1stmakearoux at 7:58AM on 04/16/07
I included a link to the news story, but I guess that's not allowed in questions: it was stripped out. Here it is:
Lax Inspections Pose Risk for Contamination of Imported Foods, Experts Say
Lou at 8:06AM on 04/16/07
I've added the link into the post as well, Lou. Links are stripped out of questions currently. It's on our list of things to get fixed asap.
megnut at 9:14AM on 04/16/07
wow. one of those problems that doesn't seem to have a solution.
ThatGirl153 at 2:00PM on 04/16/07
There is a solution to the problem......buy more local products, and allow our farms to do what they do best...farm!
I was a Customs broker for 11 years, and many of my clients imported food products into the U.S....I can attest that the Fox news article is pretty accurate. Obviously the FDA cannot inspect every shipment, any more than Customs can inspect every shipment that comes through our air, ocean & land borders...therefore we are vulnerable on all aspects.
The current trend towards sustainability is one of the few economically friendly solutions to this problem. Know who grows/produces your food!
mepolo at 2:32PM on 04/16/07
The problem is that people like access to the imported items that we can't grow here. As our culture diversifies, people want the things that they grew up with in their home countries. More and more ethnic grocery stores are opening in my area.
ThatGirl153 at 3:36PM on 04/16/07
Although the article is on Faux News's website, the source is actually the Associated Press, a substantially more trustworthy and objective news outlet.
Several recent news articles have revealed problems with imported food (1, 2, 3). The rate of imports has been skyrocketing, but the number of inspectors is relatively unchanged.
Buying local is important, but somehow the food industry needs to create a chain of accountability and safety assurance that goes all the way back to the farm. A lot of grocery stores carry garlic imported from China; I highly doubt that the corporate buyers know anything about how that garlic was grown.
Marc at 11:15AM on 04/18/07