Granted, we all can read labels and usually decipher where the item is from, but what about when it is not so specifically labeled? This email made me stop and think...
(Do scroll to the bottom to check out some important links regarding some of the information written in the email below- you might be shocked!)
I received this email below, as some of you may have as well:
"Imported Food We Eat (Unknowingly) from CHINA ...
Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China and so are most of Europe's Best. Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.
Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from USA or Canada, the other stuff is grown in people poop (even worse than chicken poop). China is the largest producer of garlic in the world. U.S. is next.
Buy only local honey, much honey is shipped in in huge containers from China and re-packed here.
Cold-FX is grown and packed in China and is full of fecal bacteria. Doesn't work anyway, big scam. If the country of origin is not clearly marked beware. If produce, ask an employee.
Watch out for packages which state "prepared for", "packed by" or "imported by". I don't understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce.
The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store. I go to the local farmers' markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.
Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom. It's important for all of us.
How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or Canada?
FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'. SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE LIBERTY BRAND.
GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CALIFORNIA. Beware, Costco sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China.
ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA. THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO THESE
FISH.
Recently The Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how
Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish
ponds, and the fish feed on chicken manure.
If you search the internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you'll
be alarmed; e.g., growth hormones, expired anti-biotic from humans.
Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these
countries: Vietnam, China, Philippines.
Check this out personally. I did. Stienfeld's Pickles are made in India -
just as bad!
Another example is in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came from Indonesia.
Also check those little fruit cups. They used to be made in Canada in
the Niagara region until about 2 years ago. They are now packaged in
China!
While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys,
and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its
hands! Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges
afforded to the Chinese should be suspended! Well, duh! Why do you
need the government to suspend trading privileges?
SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA AND THE U.S.!
Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or PRC'(and that
now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at
how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally
amazed at what you can do without.
THINK ABOUT THIS:
If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.
Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth
it.
START NOW and don't stop."
After checking Snopes.com to determine the validity of this email, I could not come to any conclusion as this particular email wasn't found there (at this time,) but this is what I did find...
Here are some links about Green Giant vegetables:
(ACTUALLY FROM THEIR BLOG!)
http://blog.greengiant.com/category/all/the-green-giant-valley-visit-highlights-from-the-event.aspx
http://blog.greengiant.com/category/all/celebrate-the-bounty-of-earth-day.aspx (This used to be a link with information about the source of some of their vegetables, but has since been changed. There is no longer information available on this page.)
and more from other sources:
http://www.aarp.org/online-community/forums.action/food_healthy-eating_made-china-india
http://www.justanswer.com/fraud-examiner/74gq8-frozen-vegitables-distributed-name-green-giant.html
I could NOT locate an article from the Montreal Gazette regarding what the email stated, but here is what I did locate about what China feeds their farm raised fish:
http://www.naturalnews.com/037576_farmed_seafood_animal_feces_china.html
http://thebovine.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/chinese-fish-farmers-feeding-pig-manure/
I did not check out EVERYTHING in the email above, but the above links are proof that further research may be warranted in some things.
If there was an item that caught your attention in the email, it may be a good idea to do your own investigation to determine the quality and source of the item you buy.
Disclaimer: I posted this email for educational purposes only and do not make any claims that all the information contained there-in is factual. I think an overall awareness is the most important object you should gather from this email, and why, choosing local, fresh food is IMPORTANT, plus don't take for granted that just because you buy food from a brand name it is produced in the U.S.!
Only generic crap is from overseas. The good stuff (Green Giant, Dole, ect) are from North and South America. Dole does have crops in some Asian countries but China has an unmarketable climate for pineapples so not there (more likely the Polynesian islands or Philippines).
ReplyDeleteWow!!! This is an eye opener. I had received an e-mail stating all the things that I read in this article, but because it was in the form of an e-mail, I thought oh just garbage. But I guess not. We will definitely start looking at the labels on the cans. How about green giant's frozen, are they from China?? I have also heard that Dole Pineapple comes from China. Is that true??
ReplyDeleteSame here! What I thought was all US or Canada raised brands are not and I will be looking closer at all foods. No FDA or US regulations. Wow Im not very hungry after reading and researching this.
DeleteHi there! Just came across this blog. We're aware there's an inaccurate rumor going around about where and how Green Giant veggies are grown. Out of 100 different vegetable varieties, the only frozen vegetable sold in the U.S. that we source from China is edamame, which is only in two of our boxed vegetable blends—Healthy Weight and the new, limited edition Teriyaki Stir Fry. Rest assured, we hold all our farmers to the same strict quality and safety standards. These two vegetable blends are favorites with many on our Green Giant team!
ReplyDeletegrown here----frozen and packaged where?
DeleteI just called arctic garden to see where green whole beans come from, guess what they don't know, and it takes 5 business days to call me back with the information. I told them, seriously, you don't know. Because I think he didn't want tell me it is made in china.
ReplyDelete