Are food imports from China Safe?
It’s hard to not be aware that many cats and dogs developed kidney failure and even death recently from tainted pet food. If you have followed the investigation, you may also already know that what has been found is the contamination began in China.
This time is was our pets that were at risk, but how many of us have been put at risk for contaminated foods that have not been caught through the importation process from China?
Now, what many of you may NOT know, is that although China’s agricultural exports to the US has increased almost 20 times in the last 25 years, to $2.26 billion last year, which also include such things as poultry products, sausage casings, shellfish, honey, spices and apple juice, US inspectors are able to only inspect a tiny percentage of these shipments that enter the US each year. And, what HAS been inspected has resulted in an average of 200 rejections per month this year, which is the largest number from any country. For example, two other big importers include Thailand and Italy, but their rejections averaged 18 and 35/month respectively!
What has sent China products back have included such examples as pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, contaminated honey, filthy plums, crawfish contaminated with salmonella, foods containing pesticides, antibiotics and other potentially harmful chemicals, as well as false or incomplete labeling that sometimes doesn’t even include the producer’s name.
Although China has made great improvements in their technology and sanitation, and they continue to try to improve inspections on their products, they have experienced limited success. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used in excess in order to boost yields, while harmful antibiotics are widely used to control disease in seafood and livestock. Unchecked industrial pollution risks introducing heavy metals into the food chain. Farmers have used products that are known to cause cancer in order to increase the value of their products and produce leaner meats. China’s Health Ministry reported almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005, with spoiled food accounting for the largest number, followed by poisonous plants or animals and use of agricultural chemicals.
A big part of the problem is that most of China’s agricultural products still come from small farmers, which makes regulation difficult. Small farms ship to market with little documentation. Testing of the safety and purity of farm products such as milk is often haphazard. Only about 6 percent of agricultural products were considered pollution-free in 2005, while safer, better quality food accounts for just 1 percent of the total, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As China’s infrastructure continues to modernize and improve, this bleak picture will improve. They are trying hard to separate foods produced for export from domestic products. They want their export trade to flourish, so it is in their best interest to improve their standards. However, what can you do, today, to protect yourself?
Well, first of all, many of us had no idea that one supplier was providing product to so many pet food companies. And that this supplier was using a China company. Many people are now making their own pet food from scratch. In fact, why not do the same for yourself? Buy your food and cook it, yourself. And, while you’re at it, buy locally, so you know where your food is really coming from. Local seafood, local meats, or at least know where they come from, and local produce all can provide improved quality AND eliminate the question of just how safe the food is. Just about every town in the country today has a local farmer’s market, and by buying local produce, you are supporting your local growers. You can usually even find local egg farmers and diaries! If you eat beef, chances are that if you do some research, you can also still find a local beef farmer.
Our world is going global, but with that global growth come ‘growing pains’. However, although China is emerging into the 21st century, they still have a long way to go. In the meantime, if you have concerns about where your food is coming from, and just how safe it is, take control by doing your research and support your own local agricultural community and improving your health while you’re at it!
This time is was our pets that were at risk, but how many of us have been put at risk for contaminated foods that have not been caught through the importation process from China?
Now, what many of you may NOT know, is that although China’s agricultural exports to the US has increased almost 20 times in the last 25 years, to $2.26 billion last year, which also include such things as poultry products, sausage casings, shellfish, honey, spices and apple juice, US inspectors are able to only inspect a tiny percentage of these shipments that enter the US each year. And, what HAS been inspected has resulted in an average of 200 rejections per month this year, which is the largest number from any country. For example, two other big importers include Thailand and Italy, but their rejections averaged 18 and 35/month respectively!
What has sent China products back have included such examples as pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, contaminated honey, filthy plums, crawfish contaminated with salmonella, foods containing pesticides, antibiotics and other potentially harmful chemicals, as well as false or incomplete labeling that sometimes doesn’t even include the producer’s name.
Although China has made great improvements in their technology and sanitation, and they continue to try to improve inspections on their products, they have experienced limited success. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used in excess in order to boost yields, while harmful antibiotics are widely used to control disease in seafood and livestock. Unchecked industrial pollution risks introducing heavy metals into the food chain. Farmers have used products that are known to cause cancer in order to increase the value of their products and produce leaner meats. China’s Health Ministry reported almost 34,000 food-related illnesses in 2005, with spoiled food accounting for the largest number, followed by poisonous plants or animals and use of agricultural chemicals.
A big part of the problem is that most of China’s agricultural products still come from small farmers, which makes regulation difficult. Small farms ship to market with little documentation. Testing of the safety and purity of farm products such as milk is often haphazard. Only about 6 percent of agricultural products were considered pollution-free in 2005, while safer, better quality food accounts for just 1 percent of the total, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As China’s infrastructure continues to modernize and improve, this bleak picture will improve. They are trying hard to separate foods produced for export from domestic products. They want their export trade to flourish, so it is in their best interest to improve their standards. However, what can you do, today, to protect yourself?
Well, first of all, many of us had no idea that one supplier was providing product to so many pet food companies. And that this supplier was using a China company. Many people are now making their own pet food from scratch. In fact, why not do the same for yourself? Buy your food and cook it, yourself. And, while you’re at it, buy locally, so you know where your food is really coming from. Local seafood, local meats, or at least know where they come from, and local produce all can provide improved quality AND eliminate the question of just how safe the food is. Just about every town in the country today has a local farmer’s market, and by buying local produce, you are supporting your local growers. You can usually even find local egg farmers and diaries! If you eat beef, chances are that if you do some research, you can also still find a local beef farmer.
Our world is going global, but with that global growth come ‘growing pains’. However, although China is emerging into the 21st century, they still have a long way to go. In the meantime, if you have concerns about where your food is coming from, and just how safe it is, take control by doing your research and support your own local agricultural community and improving your health while you’re at it!
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
8:14 AM
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