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

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



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