| I was recently stunned by some news about the | | | | percent of the U.S. market for vitamin C. |
| "Hostess Twinkie" snack cake. It turns out that | | | | Additionally, it supplies America with the bulk of its |
| the deliciously sweet and tasty staple of the baby | | | | vitamins A, B12 and E, while quietly driving nearly |
| boomer generation is no longer All-American. "Can | | | | everyone else out of business. |
| you believe that?" It turns out that along with | | | | Chinese pharmaceutical companies have also |
| many other non-traceable imported additives, it | | | | taken over much of the world market in the |
| now contains a really wholesome sounding | | | | production of antibiotics, analgesics, enzymes and |
| ingredient called thiamine mononitrate - a product | | | | primary amino acids. According to industry |
| that comes from petroleum. Chinese petroleum to | | | | estimates, China makes about 70% of the world's |
| be precise. Produced in Chinese refineries and | | | | supply of penicillin, 50% of its aspirin and 35% of |
| repackaged in Chinese factories. "Is anything | | | | its acetaminophen (Tylenol). |
| sacred anymore? Do you think we could get an | | | | Fortunately for everyone, most of China's |
| RDA from the FDA on that important | | | | industry is highly skilled, self-regulating and |
| non-nutrient?" | | | | consistently producing high quality products. |
| As it turns out, my ignorance of such matters in | | | | However, the lower tiers of Chinese industry are |
| all likelihood parallels that of the typical American | | | | quite a different story. Many factories are dirty |
| consumer. It seems we've simply been 'asleep at | | | | with older machinery and have no system for |
| the wheel'. While most of us have been snoozing, | | | | regulating sanitation or quality. Inspectors have |
| the Chinese have gradually chipped away at the | | | | little interest in public health or safety since many |
| world's industrial and manufacturing markets | | | | either work for the same company they're |
| gaining an ever-increasing share of production and | | | | inspecting or they're employed by the city |
| profits. Ingenuity, quicker product delivery and | | | | governments which are in fact, part owners of |
| lower prices have all contributed to their | | | | the companies they're allegedly "regulating". |
| remarkable growth. Now, I'm certain it's been a | | | | The big problem for consumers, who may wish |
| win-win situation in many markets, but I can't help | | | | to avoid certain products from sources known to |
| expressing concern when price and production | | | | be risky is that, at present, U.S. laws don't require |
| capacity begin to compromise or threaten food | | | | food and drug sellers to label products with the |
| safety and consumer health. | | | | country of origin of ingredients, which makes it |
| The recent and tragic events surrounding the | | | | impossible for consumers to know where food or |
| contamination of pet food was a much-needed | | | | supplements are coming from, not to mention |
| wake-up call for most Americans. It exposed the | | | | which factory produced them. I think it's fair to |
| startling reality of a food system at risk and a | | | | say that proper nutrition and food safety is |
| bureaucratic infrastructure that's ill equipped to | | | | difficult enough for us consumers when the |
| provide the necessary checks and balances for | | | | system is working properly. What makes it easy |
| food safety and quality assurance. In the current | | | | for the bad guys is that we Americans tend to |
| state of poorly regulated and inspected food | | | | take an awful lot for granted by assuming that |
| additives and products, we can be assured that | | | | everyone is doing their job properly to protect us. |
| the more we outsource, the less control we have | | | | But, how can we expect quality control when so |
| over quality or safety. | | | | few distributors and manufacturers know the true |
| A recent headline remarked, "if you pop a vitamin | | | | source of their ingredient. |
| C tablet in your mouth, it's a good bet it came | | | | While it may be a little too late for the "Twinkie" |
| from China". Not surprisingly, many of the world's | | | | we can only hope that our members of Congress |
| vitamins are indeed now manufactured in China. | | | | will finally take the necessary action to put proper |
| Statistics also show that during the past ten | | | | controls in place that will ensure the safety and |
| years, China has captured an estimated 90 | | | | security of our vulnerable food supply. |