Chinese Poison Train Declared Unstoppable: Next Stop, You!

[Matsubara]

http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/consumer/the-end-is-nigh/chinese-poison-train-declared-unstoppable-next-stop-you-262006.php


Chinese Poison Train Declared Unstoppable: Next Stop, You!

Poison toothpaste, killer cough-syrup, and tainted pet food are the tip of the disgusting iceberg of yuck heading our way from China. Over the past four months, the FDA has rejected 298 shipments from China that included "filthy" fruits, cancer-causing shrimp, and "poisonous" swordfish.

Rejected items often reappear at U.S. ports several times; importers gamble that the FDA, which only inspects 1% of regulated imports, won't catch them in the act. Their slip-ups are detailed in stomach-wrenching refusal reports filed by the FDA.

Our puny food safety laws are no match for the wiles of Chinese importers. Federal law only allows the import of meat from foreign factories that have been certified to match domestic safety standards. Since no Chinese factories are currently certified, crafty Chinese meat smugglers simply send us their meat labeled as something else.

Some were shipped in crates labeled "dried lily flower," "prune slices" and "vegetables," according to news reports. It is unclear how much of the illegal meat slipped in undetected.

[sam sarrha]

1. demand all chinese products are labled product of china

[iamjoy]

2. That's A Better Solution

all products must be labeled with their origin. It's a start at least. Since the FDA cannot inspect every import, lets label it. Then, consumers can decide if they want to take the added risk of foods from China.

Of course, considering the salmonella in the peanut butter and the e coli in the spinach, I'm not sure American food is all that safer.

[sam sarrha]

my mother buys no food from china.. we will see who gets money from china when we ask

legislation for safe food

[napi21]

3. I think any contaminated food should be DESTROYED!

Any food product or food ingredient that is tested and found to be contaminated with a poisonous substance should be destroyed! Why send it back? The only option for the supplier then is to either reship it to try to beat our inspection process or poison the Chinese by keeping it at home!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Another reason to buy locally

Most places have farmer's markets, where you buy directly from the person who raised the product. More and more small farms are getting into the business of raising organic lamb and beef, too. And even a city dweller can raise their own spinach and lettuce in a container garden.

[dkofos]

5. It's not unstoppable.

They just need to halt ALL food imports from china.

Problem solved.

But the dems are pussies and the repubes are just greedy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. One way to make sure your food is safe

is to only buy kosher. As I understand it, the rabbinical councils (the ones who put the "U" and the "K" on foods) have to have a rabbi on site to inspect the plants where the meats and other processed foods are made. They follow the food process all the way through--and I seriously doubt if there are many rabbis in China.

[L. Coyote]

7. Japanese buying safe food in the USA direct from farmers?

Just heard a conversation between some local farmers. In summary, the Japanese have known better than to buy food from China. They are contracting to have what they want produced in the USA safely. The shipping containers are inspected/sealed in the Midwest and go to Japan, non-stop. This is an interesting example of vertically-organized product acquisition. All steps are under control of the buyer, from production to final delivery, and quality is assured.

[siligut]

8. It isn't just China.

I was at Big Lots yesterday and I think the pet food they pulled off of grocery shelves ended up there! I am so angry at business practices, pets died from eating that crap and they know it. Making it cheaper doesn’t change that it is toxic. Need to go back with a sign to post in the area, reminding people about the damn gluten problem. Getting kicked out of Big Lots won't be the end of life for me.

[City Lights]

9. This is such a copout:

"There is little we can do; economic realities make Americans subjects of China's lax food safety regime."

Is Junior still having all his food tested before he eats it?

I want *anything* imported from China labeled as such.

:mad: :grr:

[Bitwit1234]

10. Since China does not import out products

why in the devil do we import theirs. With the abundant food supply we have why do we have to import food from China of all places.

I can see fruits and vegetables from South America or some place that has fresh vegetables in the winter, but China does not have this stuff. I say demand they cut food products out of
China imports.