Trader Joe creates Chinese no-go zone

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=326633

U.S grocery chain Trader Joe's is going to halt its sales of food from China, following concerns about health and safety.

A Trader Joe's spokesperson has confirmed Chinese food will be stopped due to customer concerns and will be off the shelves by April 1st.

Trader Joe’s says it will source food products from other regions until customers feel confident about the quality and safety of Chinese products.
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Brilliant

[orleans]

1. good. too bad more don't follow. i'm getting tired of reading

cans and boxes to see where everything comes from.

lachoy products are not labeled where they are made.

[karlrschneider]

2. Hope they don't put the kibosh on the Thai Chili-Lime peanuts

I couldn't survive without those...
;-)



Yes I know Siam isn't China!!!

[Hekate]

3. All the more reason to shop at my neighborhood TJ's

A Los Angeles tv news segment made it sound like only upscale people with money to burn were shopping at TJ's, and that everyone else was going to have to choose between health and price.

Not so. Meat at TJ's is expensive, because of being organic and/or free range, but otherwise it's a pretty good deal compared to chains like Von's.

I very much hope that this starts a trend.

Hekate

[Withywindle]

15. In Chicago I've found their prices are awesome.

I can get more good food for less money at TJ's than I can at Jewel (the "regular folks" supermarket).

[Submariner]

4. They went nuts when I inquired if the Salmon Oil gel tabs came from China

I was concerned about picking up an overdose of PCBs, dioxins, or other toxin. They adamantly said NO! "Our fish oil comes from Norwegian Atlantic salmon hatcheries".

It showed me that they are very concerned about the quality of the products they sell.

[mountainvue]

5. Good for Trader Joe's. If only there was

one close to me, I would shop there.

[knitter4democracy]

10. Same here.

I have to wait to visit the in-laws. *sigh*

[theoldman]

6. Do we now stop buying food from Mexico?

[mountainvue]

7. I don't think Mexico is selling poisonous things in

large frivolous quantities, like China.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. About time someone did that! nt

[Donnachaidh]

9. uhh - it's not entirely a No China Zone

That feed is different from what went over AP --

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/11/business/NA-FIN-US-Trader-Joes-China.php

LOS ANGELES: Trader Joe's will stop offering some Chinese-grown food products because of customer concerns about safety, the store chain announced Monday.

Garlic, frozen organic spinach and other "single ingredient" food items from mainland China will be phased out by April 1, although products that include ingredients from both China and other sources will remain.


Soooo, basically TJ's is pulling single ingredient items but STILL selling items that contain Chinese parts.

I wonder if TJ's is going to put up signs telling it's customers which products STILL contain Chinese ingredients?

I'm a cynic. This seems more like a PR *slight of hand*. :shrug:

[AntiFascist]

11. If only Walmart would do that...

:rofl:

[aquart]

14. Let me guess: Product of China labels were left on the shelf?

[Obamarama]

12. Another reason to love TJ's. BTW, did you know that most garlic powder is imported from China?

I don't know quite why I was looking at the back label of the garlic powder I was about to buy a couple weeks ago, but it read "Imported from China". I checked the labels of other brands - same thing. Checked out other brands in other stores - same thing. I'm not generally an alarmist, but after the pet food fiasco, one has to wonder what they mix in as filler in the garlic powder.

[fed-up]

13. so when are they going to ban their "prepackaged" produce items??? huge waste of plastic

why won't they let customers select the quantity and quality of their produce??

The only item I buy at TJs is their organic chicken which is only $2.49 a pound-Raleys is $3.49 and the co-ops is $3.99