A second chance for faulty food? FDA calls it 'reconditioning'

[IDemo]

When a school lunch supplier repackaged moldy applesauce into canned goods and fruit cups, it drew a sharp warning from federal health regulators last month -- and general disgust from almost everyone else.

“I was appalled that there were actually human beings that were OK with this,” said Kantha Shelke, a food scientist and spokeswoman for the Institute of Food Technologists. “This is a case of unsafe food. They are trying to salvage that to make a buck.”

But even as Food and Drug Administration officials prepare to re-inspect Snokist Growers of Yakima, Wash., to ensure that the applesauce maker keeps toxin-tainted fruit off store shelves, federal officials and industry experts acknowledge that Snokist is not alone in “reworking” faulty food.

Turning imperfect, mislabeled or outright contaminated foods into edible -- and profitable -- goods is so common that virtually all producers do it, at least to some extent, sources say.

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/23/8982673-a-second-chance-for-faulty-food-fda-calls-it-reconditioning

[Brickbat]

1. When I was making tomato sauce from my own tomatoes this year (for the first time, success with

tomato-growing!), I laughed at myself for cutting off tiny flaws and nicks on the tomatoes before I made the sauce. Because seriously, tomato-sauce-makers are not doing that to the tomatoes they use. When it comes to the "benign" or "unappetizing" stuff described in the article, that doesn't surprise me or gross me out at all. Reusing moldy or contaminated food? That should be criminal.

[Ikonoklast]

2. I read that as "Snotkist Growers".

I don't think I'd knowingly buy any products from a comapany named "Snotkist".

[Ian David]

3. Really, shouldn't we let the free market decide how much human poop is in crab meat? n/t

[Mimosa]

5. Oy vey! How does that occur?

Pray tell.

[Ian David]

7. People in the factory weren't washing their hands. n/t

[backscatter712]

4. We live in the world of Judge Dredd...

"Eat recycled food! It's good for the environment and OK for you!"

[Liberal Veteran]

6. FEMA food re-education camps!

Ahhhhhhhh!

[WinkyDink]

8. We are THISCLOSE to melamine in our "food."

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=why-is-melamine-in-baby-formula-you-2008-09-24