America's Food Supply - Are Offshore Bargains Mitigating All-American Quality?

I was recently stunned by some news about thepercent of the U.S. market for vitamin C.
"Hostess Twinkie" snack cake. It turns out thatAdditionally, it supplies America with the bulk of its
the deliciously sweet and tasty staple of the babyvitamins A, B12 and E, while quietly driving nearly
boomer generation is no longer All-American. "Caneveryone else out of business.
you believe that?" It turns out that along withChinese pharmaceutical companies have also
many other non-traceable imported additives, ittaken over much of the world market in the
now contains a really wholesome soundingproduction of antibiotics, analgesics, enzymes and
ingredient called thiamine mononitrate - a productprimary amino acids. According to industry
that comes from petroleum. Chinese petroleum toestimates, China makes about 70% of the world's
be precise. Produced in Chinese refineries andsupply of penicillin, 50% of its aspirin and 35% of
repackaged in Chinese factories. "Is anythingits acetaminophen (Tylenol).
sacred anymore? Do you think we could get anFortunately for everyone, most of China's
RDA from the FDA on that importantindustry is highly skilled, self-regulating and
non-nutrient?"consistently producing high quality products.
As it turns out, my ignorance of such matters inHowever, the lower tiers of Chinese industry are
all likelihood parallels that of the typical Americanquite a different story. Many factories are dirty
consumer. It seems we've simply been 'asleep atwith 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 thelittle interest in public health or safety since many
world's industrial and manufacturing marketseither work for the same company they're
gaining an ever-increasing share of production andinspecting or they're employed by the city
profits. Ingenuity, quicker product delivery andgovernments which are in fact, part owners of
lower prices have all contributed to theirthe companies they're allegedly "regulating".
remarkable growth. Now, I'm certain it's been aThe big problem for consumers, who may wish
win-win situation in many markets, but I can't helpto avoid certain products from sources known to
expressing concern when price and productionbe risky is that, at present, U.S. laws don't require
capacity begin to compromise or threaten foodfood 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 theimpossible for consumers to know where food or
contamination of pet food was a much-neededsupplements are coming from, not to mention
wake-up call for most Americans. It exposed thewhich factory produced them. I think it's fair to
startling reality of a food system at risk and asay that proper nutrition and food safety is
bureaucratic infrastructure that's ill equipped todifficult enough for us consumers when the
provide the necessary checks and balances forsystem is working properly. What makes it easy
food safety and quality assurance. In the currentfor the bad guys is that we Americans tend to
state of poorly regulated and inspected foodtake an awful lot for granted by assuming that
additives and products, we can be assured thateveryone is doing their job properly to protect us.
the more we outsource, the less control we haveBut, 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 vitaminsource of their ingredient.
C tablet in your mouth, it's a good bet it cameWhile it may be a little too late for the "Twinkie"
from China". Not surprisingly, many of the world'swe 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 tencontrols in place that will ensure the safety and
years, China has captured an estimated 90security of our vulnerable food supply.