| I was recently stunned by some news about the | | | | supplies America with the bulk of its |
| "Hostess Twinkie" snack cake. It turns out | | | | vitamins A, B12 and E, while quietly driving |
| that the deliciously sweet and tasty staple | | | | nearly everyone else out of business. |
| of the baby boomer generation is no longer | | | | |
| All-American. "Can you believe that?" It | | | | Chinese pharmaceutical companies have also |
| turns out that along with many other | | | | taken over much of the world market in the |
| non-traceable imported additives, it now | | | | production of antibiotics, analgesics, |
| contains a really wholesome sounding | | | | enzymes and primary amino acids. According to |
| ingredient called thiamine mononitrate - a | | | | industry estimates, China makes about 70% of |
| product that comes from petroleum. Chinese | | | | the world's supply of penicillin, 50% of its |
| petroleum to be precise. Produced in Chinese | | | | aspirin 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 on | | | | Fortunately 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 matters | | | | products. However, the lower tiers of |
| in all likelihood parallels that of the | | | | Chinese industry are quite a different story. |
| typical American consumer. It seems we've | | | | Many factories are dirty with older |
| simply been 'asleep at the wheel'. While | | | | machinery and have no system for regulating |
| most of us have been snoozing, the Chinese | | | | sanitation or quality. Inspectors have |
| have gradually chipped away at the world's | | | | little interest in public health or safety |
| industrial and manufacturing markets gaining | | | | since many either work for the same company |
| an ever-increasing share of production and | | | | they're inspecting or they're employed by the |
| profits. Ingenuity, quicker product delivery | | | | city governments which are in fact, part |
| and lower prices have all contributed to | | | | owners 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 concern | | | | The big problem for consumers, who may wish |
| when price and production capacity begin to | | | | to avoid certain products from sources known |
| compromise or threaten food safety and | | | | to 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 the | | | | ingredients, which makes it impossible for |
| contamination of pet food was a much-needed | | | | consumers to know where food or supplements |
| wake-up call for most Americans. It exposed | | | | are coming from, not to mention which factory |
| the startling reality of a food system at | | | | produced them. I think it's fair to say that |
| risk and a bureaucratic infrastructure that's | | | | proper nutrition and food safety is difficult |
| ill equipped to provide the necessary checks | | | | enough for us consumers when the system is |
| and balances for food safety and quality | | | | working properly. What makes it easy for the |
| assurance. In the current state of poorly | | | | bad guys is that we Americans tend to take an |
| regulated and inspected food additives and | | | | awful lot for granted by assuming that |
| products, we can be assured that the more we | | | | everyone is doing their job properly to |
| outsource, the less control we have over | | | | protect 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 a | | | | ingredient. |
| 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 show | | | | of Congress will finally take the necessary |
| that during the past ten years, China has | | | | action 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, it | | | | vulnerable food supply. |