Does anyone know what food ingredients are being imported by US companies?
A previous post mentioned that Pepsico and Kellogg are using Japanese products. I do not know if this is true or not, but would appreciate more information about what is grown and exported.
Thailand then USA dole packs peaches in Thailand
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12814900
"'Small industry'
The government has halted spinach shipments from areas near Fukushima
Food products accounted for only 344bn yen ($4.2bn; £2.6bn) of foreign sales in 2010.
That is only about 0.5% of total exports, according to Moody's Analytics.
"On the trade front, large importers of Japanese food such as China and Taiwan are conducting stringent tests to assess the contamination problem," said Matthew Circosta of Moody's Analytics.
"Concerns that the fallout could see countries shift food consumption away from Japan are unlikely to significantly damage export growth," he added.
Japan is actually a net importer of food. It imports about 700,000 tonnes of rice annually, mostly from the US and Thailand.
Gross agricultural production is only around 4% of total production.
"It really is a small industry in Japan on the production side and as an export market," said Mr Circosta."
imports from Japan no restrictions beware
33.5 million pounds of seafood in 2010.
http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/10/4/1465/pdf
This is why I wish UCB would
This is why I wish UCB would test seaweed and seafood from Japan. They've tested local seaweed, but that isn't likely to be contaminated. I asked at Whole Foods and the seaweed they use for their sushi is from Japan! They said they got the greenlight from the FDA and that's good enough for them. Seriously, seaweed FROM JAPAN! It's unbelievable that our government doesn't see any need to protect us from this or even test the stuff!
Consequently, I have to just stop eating sushi. Makes me so angry..
The sad truth case in point mad cow
The lack of human concern by us gov importing food From Japan smells of corporate us/ jap intrests.yes economics are important but at some point human health interests must be considered .If u do research you will see all over the world economic interests are prevailing over human health .
If Japan's trade minister is forced to resign after he says something that's true.and edano is appointed to take his place.you see the message in Japan is so clear. Gov officials keep calm spread no fact/ fear or else you will be replaced by someone who follows these principles.
edano knew trade minister@ link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14877244
Ship to Thailand then to USA truth is no restrictions
USDA Gives The OK To Japanese Food Imports
Japanese food is delicious and usually very healthy, clean, simple and elegant. And while it isn't a significant interest of the American palate (which is far more interested in unclean, complicated, vulgar food), Japanese food does hold about 4% of the import market in the United States, mostly in the form of snack items and instant soups.
The FDA says that, "based on current information, there is no risk to the U.S. food supply" regarding Japanese food imports. At the same time, Today Health reported the FDA also claimed that, "while there was no 'public health event' in the United States requiring the use of the antidote potassium iodide, it was working with companies to increase production quickly."
The FDA uses the term, "based on current information" as a preventative litigious measure. This is what our country is now: people scared to say what is really going on because it may later demand a law suit, or affect commercial sales. But if you were to ask me, I'd steer clear of any imports for at least a little while. At least until we can get "more information."
The United States doesn't import that much from Japan, but many other countries do. And because the global market is full of shenanigans to bypass regulatory laws, we can't really be sure from where many of our imports are truly originating.
For instance, Thailand imports a large quantity of food from Japan, and we import _____ from Thailand, so who's to say there isn't some hand-changing along the way? Knowing that many products get globally laundered in order to be imported into an unassuming American consumer base (we'll buy almost anything, it seems!), we can safely assume that some companies might launder some products for profit without stating, or misleading, the products original starting point.
http://www.justmeans.com/USDA-Gives-OK-Japanese-Food-Imports/47313.html
Companies Sourcing Food Ingredients From Japan & China
I didn't post this site...the originator of the site did...on a different thread at the Forum. I bookmarked it...and here it is...
News For Your Family
http://www.newsforyourfamily.blogspot.com/
The original poster wrote letters/emails to various companies inquiring about the sources of the ingredients in their products. She posts her letter/email and the company's response. It is enlightening, to say the least. It is a valuable site to keep bookmarked because "she is on a roll" and she is documenting all of the inquires & responses. It is also quite informative as to which companies own which subsidiaries.
She also posts a link to Change.org...a people's petition site...to a petition to require sourcing information on product labels. This needs to be a law. We need to know where the ingredients in our food are coming from originally. Made In America/Manufactured In America is no guarantee that the ingredients were GROWN in America.
My thanks to the original poster for all her hard work...and for sharing it with us.
We are all in the same camp...
I think that most of us on this site would be KEENLY interested in what is being imported from Japan. If there are any manufacturers and/or distributors on here, this would be a good place to "advertise" that your products do not contain any Japanese imports!
Sadly, it seems that some European governments are taking pro-active steps to protect their citizens, while our government is not. Let's face it, we are on our own!
So, I try to buy products with very few ingredients (hence, not processed items, which I tend to avoid anyway). Then, I either look for the origin of these products, or I will call the manufacturer. I have been able to find butter, apples and kiwis from New Zealand, Quinoa from Bolivia, and so on. There is not much, and it is not easy.
I am now running out of some of my pre-Fukushima supplements. This is a problem as I am pretty sure that some of the ingredients would normally have been sourced in Japan. So, I am going to have to start calling and investigating.
I grow organic avocados and I spent weeks tracking down clean, organic fertilizer that was packaged pre-Fukushima. In fact, I actually had to buy it off the farm of the fertilizer rep! Now, as to my avocados themselves, I still have to get them tested at the lab (will do and will post), along with soil samples.
Anyway, I guess that I am just seconding the request of the first poster who initiated the topic.
Butter brand
Hi,
Can you share share the brand name of the butter from new zealand? And which stores carry it. Thanks!
Butter from afar...
Hi,
The butter from New Zealand is sold at Lazy Acres in Santa Barbara. I do not recall the brand name because I didn't buy it last time I was there. The butter in the case was too close to its expiration date. However, I will get that info and post as soon as I go back and look. I intend to buy from the next shipment.
Meanwhile, I did buy butter from Ireland-although I surely agree that New Zealand would be better. The name of the Irish butter is "Kerrygold." It is wrapped in a gold foil label and says "Pure Irish Butter."
I will post the name of the New Zealand butter after my next trip to Lazy Acres! Stay tuned....
New Zealand Butter
Okay, I went to Lazy Acres in Santa Barbara yesterday, and I looked up the name of that butter from New Zealand. The brand name is "Anchor," and the package says "Pure New Zealand Butter."
Lazy Acres also has beef from New Zealand and Uruguay, and lamb, I believe, from New Zealand. I also found some fruit from So. America and asparagus from Peru. Not a whole lot from south of the equator, but at least there is something.
Not easy...and we are especially concerned-and on the lookout-for Japanese products being sent through some other country; and Japanese products like seaweed (and the many items made from seaweed) that can be in just so many items and cosmetics. What can we do without RIGOROUS-and honest, reliable- testing????????????????????
Most people are oblivious-either by personal choice, or by lack of media coverage-so, that sort of testing may never be demanded by the population.
Using people as filters is
Using people as filters is actually quite clever, just as we do with industrial fluorides with water fluoridation. Dilution seems to work quite well.