Imported Chinese food products

I read today that the tainted Chinese raw materiel that has been killing pets may have had the non legal ingredient knowingly and dishonestly added to make it test (wrongly) at a higher protien level. It reminds me of the French winemakers who added a little antifreeze to wine a few years back to improve the flavor of the wine. (and not show up on any common tests) The French winemakers went to jail. Only time will tell if Chinese authorities take the same hard line with food adulteriers, as the French did.
I also read that some of the tainted product may have been diverted from pet food to hog feed. That means that the melimine (sp?) could now be in the human food chain, if the pigs that eat the food get slaughtered when they get sick. Now our own food inspection folks have one more thing to worry about. It is time for China to get serious about food safety, or they could find major markets closed to them. JMO


UPDATE When I posted this I had not yet read "Intentional!!!????!!!!".
If I had, I'd have posted to that thread......sorry

Today I was reading about our food police not letting Chinese chicken in to the USA. In order for a country to export meat/poultry to the USA, the exporting country has to meet our standards. For example Australian lamb is sent over her in large amounts, because the Australian government inspects Australian meat to high standards. We also import a lot of canned beef from So America, and canned ham from Europe. In reading about the disgusting chicken factories in China, I wondered how they export so much fish here. Is Chinese fish raised to higher world standards?? It said in the story that a lot of Chinese fish is raised in ponds under chicken coops so that the fish can eat the chicken byproduct.

quote:

Originally posted by tmiles

Is Chinese fish raised to higher world standards?? It said in the story that a lot of Chinese fish is raised in ponds under chicken coops so that the fish can eat the chicken byproduct.

I got into a conversation with a gal in a supermarket one day who was buying bags of this great looking fish (forgot what kind it was). She raved about how good it was so I bought a 3 lb bag. I thawed it and when I smelled it, I would have to say that these fish were indeed eating chicken by-products! I learned a good lesson..........do not buy any seafood product from China (and that includes shrimp...........which is another story). Incidentally, I returned the fish to the supermarket and was given a refund with no questions asked.

Greymo, I'm in total agreement with you and would include imported frozen crawfish tails - I've gotten burned with sour-and bad tasting tails, I don't bother with them anymore.

News articles are stating that less than 1% of imported food receives any kind of government inspection. Of course, the percentage of domestic food that is inspected is not much better.

All the vitamin C consumed in this country comes from China, Yikes!!

quote:

Originally posted by Extreme Glow

News articles are stating that less than 1% of imported food receives any kind of government inspection. Of course, the percentage of domestic food that is inspected is not much better.

I belive that refers to the ports apon arrival.
There is a fairly strict inspection process that foreign countrys must meet before exporting to the U.S. for human consumption.
A recent and well deserved addition to the import list is some Serrano ham from Spain. They tryed for years to get this product to the U.S. market, but their prossesing houses were not up to our standards. Another one that comes to mind is imported Mortadella fom Italy another great product. Chow Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Jimeats

quote:

Originally posted by Extreme Glow

News articles are stating that less than 1% of imported food receives any kind of government inspection. Of course, the percentage of domestic food that is inspected is not much better.

I belive that refers to the ports apon arrival.
There is a fairly strict inspection process that foreign countrys must meet before exporting to the U.S. for human consumption.
A recent and well deserved addition to the import list is some Serrano ham from Spain. They tryed for years to get this product to the U.S. market, but their prossesing houses were not up to our standards. Another one that comes to mind is imported Mortadella fom Italy another great product. Chow Jim

That may be true for "fresh" products such as meats, fruits, etc. where the government's concern is damage to the domestic industry from disease and pests. Processed food is another matter.