On Mon, 5 Nov 2007 13:17:35 -0800, "Dave Bugg" >
wrote:

>Pinetree wrote:
>> "Dave Bugg" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Pinetree wrote:
>>>> Did you all know that "Product of the U.S.A." or "Product of Canada"
>>>> on your cans and plastic bags, could just mean that the can or
>>>> plastic bag was made in the country; or that the contents were just
>>>> "processed" in these countries.
>>>
>>> Really? Could you post the source for that info?
>>> --
>>> Dave
>>> www.davebbq.com
>>>
>
>> Confirmed by several major grocery stores' customer service (they
>>> really
>> cannot lie to you),
>
>Which ones? And how would a grocery store know anything about the source of
>ingredients in the production of a product? Just on a lark, I called
>Safeway, and they hadn't a clue. I also called my rep at Sysco, and he said
>that all their food products are labled with the country of origin.
>
>> and also I am presently staying in Canada and saw
>> the whole program on www.cbc.ca/marketplace two weeks ago.
>
>You'll excuse me if I need more specifics of what the program actually said.
>Any links to a transcript or an online excerpt?
>
>> Some
>> people have been trying to change this devious practice in the USA
>> for twenty years (!!!)
>
>Who?
>
>> I just found out by 'phoning the USA,
>
>Any particular phone number?
>
>> but of
>> course the Governments really don't care. ... snip.
>
>This is when my skeptics antenna goes up. I just called the USDA and was
>forwarded to the Marketing and Regulatory Programs division and spoke with
>Deputy Chief Information Officer Angela Thompson (202-720-1237, in case you
>want to call). What she said was that if a product is labled as being
>produced in a specific country, then the major 'constituency' of that
>product is from where the product was produced.
>
>She stated that since certain minor ingredients in a product, like spices,
>may originate outside of the country of origin. This is because most
>countries do not grow their own spices.
>
>I don't see any major issue here.

pinetree's post made the needle on my bullshit meter spin as well.

your pal,
blake