Mmm Mmm Good - Have you checked your canned foods lately???

[polichick]

I've heard about our food being imported from unidentified countries, but never realized what an issue it really is until today. Since I don't buy many canned goods, I decided to do a little research and make a point of reading cans at the store. Sure enough, while the companies "distributing" the product were listed (along with their U.S. location) NOT ONE of the dozen+ cans I read listed the country of origin.

Yep, Congress considers it important for us to know where our jeans come from, but not where our beef stew, canned spaghetti or soup comes from.

Now I know what the fuss is all about.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. I avoid most canned or jarred food to begin with

Prepared food is crap anyway; I would rather sacrifice convenience and get good quality food for a good price. But aren't labels required to say where they were packaged?

[polichick]

4. Me too - I like the farmers market and other local places for food shopping...

But, like you, I figured it was a requirement to list the country of origin until someone told me it wasn't, and today I had to see for myself.

[lonestarnot]

32. Well whacha gona eat when we git the amegidyon?

[alfredo]

39. Staying out of the center isles makes for a healthier diet, it will

save you money.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. If you have any pets, check out the country of origin of all their treats.

You would not believe how hard it is to find something that is made in the US, not China.

[polichick]

5. How true!!!

I've been looking for a new dog bed and some toys for Christmas, and have only found one store that carries anything made in the U.S. ~ a place that specializes in natural foods. Amazing!

[Neecy]

25. try this one...

I've gotten some of their stuff for my dogs and they're great...

http://www.earthdog.com/

[polichick]

26. Thanks! What a great site - I love it...

And I also believe we should be able to grow hemp in the U.S. again ~ like Thomas Jefferson did!

[BrklynLiberal]

38. Thanks for that link. I am going to do some shopping there.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Country of origin labelling (COOL) is not a very high priority on

the list of things to do.

On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 2002 Farm Bill. One of its many initiatives requires country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts. On January 27, 2004, President Bush signed Public Law 108-199 which delays the implementation of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006. On November 10, 2005, President Bush signed Public Law 109-97, which delays the implementation for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised and shellfish until September 30, 2008. As described in the legislation, program implementation is the responsibility of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/

[polichick]

6. Thank-you!

This is just stunning to me ~ the U.S. has really lost its way if the food supply isn't even safe!

[RavensChick]

17. Exactly!

In fact, all countries of origin have to be displayed on the labels of all meat and poultry products, canned and fresh. That is the main requirement for any company who wants to distribute their products.

www.fsis.usda.gov

[napi21]

20. It also includes seafood products. The major food businesses like

ADM, Conagra, etc have been fighting this big time! They don't want to have to disclose their devious practices!

[RavensChick]

24. True

but they have to realize that if they don't clean up their act, more recalls will happen because more illnesses will occur (God forbid) and they'll be held liable. No one wants a lawsuit, but threaten them with litigation or govt. involvement and they'll straighten up fast. As for devious practices, it's been that way forever, but undercover investigations make for great news watching.

[gatorboy]

7. The FDA isn't of much use anyway.

The amount of sodium in these canned goods will kill ya alone.

[polichick]

13. 950 mg in one serving of soup, I read today! nt

[grilled onions]

8. Bought Bottled OJ (away from home)

and was shocked to see a listing of COUNTRIES that helped fill that bottle with orange juice including Brazil,Turkey and our favorite--China. U.S. was also in there although they may have contributed little more then the label.

[polichick]

14. Creepy - as if that bottle was passed around the world on its way to the store! nt

[kestrel91316]

9. If I want canned foods, I buy the ingredients, cook up the recipe, and

CAN THEM MYSELF.

Anyone with a modicum of incentive and ability to follow instructions can do the same.
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/publications_usda.html

You can buy pressure canners:
http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com/prestopressurecanners.htm
http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com/mirropressurecanner.htm
http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com/americancans.htm

Doubly virtuous if your ingredients are locally grown/orgainc.

[The Straight Story]

10. Kicking your post

I am an idiot and I can can pretty well, so anyone can do it :)

[BeHereNow]

11. GREAT links Kestrel! Thanks!

I grew up around grandmas, aunts and cousins who were
all farmers and canning was part of kitchen life.
I always wished I'd learned it from them, but now, thanks to you,
I can teach myself.

BHN :thumbsup: :hug:

[kestrel91316]

23. My dad's folks were Mormon and had a NV ranch where they produced

most their own food. They HAD to can stuff. Grandma had a huge cellar lined with shelves and years' worth of canned meats, chicken, soup, vegetables, fruits, preserves. She made the world's best Pottawatomie Plum Jam.

I never saw her do any canning, but I knew the process existed. In college I taught myself to put up peaches and applesauce by boiling water bath. Then about 12 years ago I bought a pressure canner, and the rest is history. So I'm self-taught, but with a major family heritage of preserving the harvest.

[BeHereNow]

28. Can't wait to meet you- next Ladies of DU Taco lunch!

We are over due for a get together.
Hope you can make it.
BHN

[kestrel91316]

37. Just don't forget to invite me!

[polichick]

27. It's been a long time since I've done any canning...

...though I do grow and freeze lots of raspberries.

Canning brings back such good memories ~ when I was a kid, we'd run away to the cellar because there was enough food there to last months and months. Thanks! :)

[Gloria]

29. When I had a huge garden, I canned tomatoes that lasted all winter and

were fantastic!!

[Le Taz Hot]

35. I've been canning for years and

I just this year bought a pressure cooker/canner (22 quart). I LOVE this thing! Until I started expanding my canning into recipes containing meats, I never really needed one. I'm finding all kinds of uses for it now.

[kimmerspixelated]

12. I find that Amy's organic cans

of soup, refried beans and some frozen dinners-all veg- are excellent. I haven't read the labels for poa yet, though. Thanks.

[polichick]

16. I've tried their frozen meals and really like them...

I'll have to try some canned things from them ~ love refried beans!

If I'm not mistaken, they make everything in their U.S. plant.

[Whisp]

15. and no genetically modified labels as well.

they are feeding us shit in every menu available besides food.

[polichick]

18. It really is fightening...

I've read that little girls are maturing years early because of hormones used in food ~ who knows what's gonna happen in our kids next?!

[Whisp]

19. that's the deal breaker with me, our children...

and what they have ahead of them in this twisted mega corp world for profit and making clients for the medical field with their crimes.

I could not care much, for myself, I'm old and crusty and getting pretty sick of it all, but my god, what are we leaving?

[Canuckistanian]

21. They've been relatively mouse-head free lately

But I put that down to the fact that I rarely buy canned foods from outside of Poland.

[polichick]

22. Lol nt

[Gloria]

30. Check out the non-profit Ctr. for Science in the Public Interest's Nutrition Action newsletter

It really does a great job analyzing foods, dishonest food and supplement claims, warnings, etc. and lobbying for food safety. We subscribe and it's worth it!! They are now taking their efforts to court and suing companies. They're a good organization. The founder and director, Miachel F. Jacobson, PhD was on the Colbert Report awhile back...he had a new book out.

www.cspinet.org

[Canuckistanian]

36. Thnx

I don't buy many prepared foods any more. As far as I'm concerned, the more spectacular the packaging, the worse the product.

Just give me good raw materials and I can make good food.

[KamaAina]

31. Frozen ones too, though they're better labeled

for a while, the downtown Honolulu location of Longs Drugs had a special on Stouffer's brand frozen dinners that, as it turned out, were made in Mexico.

[Rosemary2205]

33. Thank NAFTA

Nearly everything "my" company sells is manufactured in either China or Thailand. We put the labels on in the US of A so we can sell it as American and do not have to claim the country of origin. In fact, even if we export our imported goods to yet a 3rd country, they are exported as made in USA.

The laws changing country of origin labeling were done so under Bill Clinton..........my only real beef with the man.

[Le Taz Hot]

34. Yep.

Canned it all myself in my own kitchen from organic produce grown and raised right here in the San Joaquin Valley. I know EXACTLY what's in there and exactly where it came from. ;)