On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:20:15 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:

>>
>> When I started seeing garlic from China, I started growing my own -
>> not because of any particular health concerns, but because there is
>> something ecologically sinful about importing garlic from China.
>>
>> Think global, buy local.
>>
>> Boron
> >
>I agree entirely about the environmental issues associated with
>importing food from so far away. However, given China's sanitation,
>pollution and food safety issues, I'm not comfortable buying anything
>edible from there for the foreseeable future.

You're likely consuming it without knowing it. Few food manufacturers
make known the sources of all their ingredients and that is one reason
why.

I did a study for a client a few years ago who was looking to purchase
a major ingredient food concentrate from China and tested labeling
with various countries. China was not popular and this was way back in
the day before the major scares came up.

If China is exporting fresh garlic, they are also exporting dried,
powdered, flaked, etc and those products will be used by US
manufacturers. It isn't limited to garlic, either.

I have a package of Trader Joe's High Potency B "100" right here that
contains all sorts of things, including alfalfa powder, parsley
powder, rice bran and watercress powder. No sourcing whatsoever for
that or any of the other components of the B vitamins in the product.
All the package says is "Distributed & sold exclusively by.. Trader
Joe's...etc..

China is getting into the pharmaceutical markets in a big way, too.
You will not know if some component of the medication you are taking
or feeding your child comes from China. In many cases, the
manufacturer isn't sure where it comes from, either.

It isn' t that all Chinese exports are bad or dangerous, but this
country no longer has any sort of adequate structure to monitor
imports adequately or the food processors and manufacturers here in
the US. Where is Upton Sinclair when we need him?

Boron