http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/poisonfood/ en-us Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:29:26 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946440/posts North Carolina isn't waiting for the next time imported products sicken a child or kill a cat. In a push to find problems before they harm consumers, inspectors with the N.C. Department of Agriculture have been routinely monitoring imported candy, seafood, dry spices and nearly a dozen other imported and domestically produced products on grocery shelves. The program, started in 2005, is one reason North Carolina was recently asked to join four other states in helping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration develop a better system for ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply. State and local agencies conduct... The Charlotte Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946440/posts#comment Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:29:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885162/posts John Michael of Bethesda stood in the supermarket aisle comparing labels on two cans of mackerel. One said "product of China"; the other, "product of Peru." For Michael, it was a no-brainer. No seafood from China for him, given the recent news of tainted Chinese imports. He wants to know where his food comes from. "Country-of-origin labeling is important to me for food safety reasons," said the 75-year-old grandfather. "My family's health is top priority." Eighty-two percent of U.S. shoppers agree with Michael, according to a survey released in March by the consumer advocacy group Food and Water Watch. And... The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885162/posts#comment Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:00:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885156/posts Foreign food importers will be able to tell certified Chinese food products from fake ones thanks to a "CIQ" mark that all legal food exports are required to carry on their packaging from next month. The mark stands for China Inspection and Quarantine, which guarantees that the exports have passed quality tests, according to a regulation unveiled by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The packages should also carry information such as the enterprise's name and address, batch number and production date so that any quality problems can be traced to the source. The measure is... China Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885156/posts#comment Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:48:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885147/posts Summary: China's environmental woes are mounting, and the country is fast becoming one of the leading polluters in the world. The situation continues to deteriorate because even when Beijing sets ambitious targets to protect the environment, local officials generally ignore them, preferring to concentrate on further advancing economic growth. Really improving the environment in China will require revolutionary bottom-up political and economic reforms. China's environmental problems are mounting. Water pollution and water scarcity are burdening the economy, rising levels of air pollution are endangering the health of millions of Chinese, and much of the country's land is rapidly turning into... Foreign Affairs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885147/posts#comment Thu, 23 Aug 2007 01:34:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884629/posts (JAKARTA) - Local supplier PT Hawaii Confectionery Factory has withdrawn its product "Blackcurrant" candy from the market due to public concern over the possibility it contains the recently banned chemical formaldehyde. "Blackcurrant candy is a domestic product that is manufactured under a Health Ministry license, but we have decided to withdraw it from the market in the interests of consumer safety until the agency gives us the results," the company's marketing manager, Rusmin Soetjipto, said in a media release issued Monday. Blackcurrant candy is currently being tested for formaldehyde at the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, although the company has... The Jakarta Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884629/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 03:20:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884623/posts (LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) - Tests of two Chinese brands of dog treats sold at Wal-Mart stores found traces of melamine, a chemical agent that led to another massive pet food recall in March, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. Wal-Mart quietly stopped selling Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading in July, after customers said the products sickened their pets. Company spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said 17 sets of tests done on the products found melamine, a contaminant that's a byproduct of several pesticides. "There were very small amounts of melamine found," Galberth told The... Forbes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884623/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 03:08:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884613/posts Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said on Tuesday the country should do everything possible to maximize the grain harvest this year despite serious natural disasters that have affected production in some areas. A good harvest was significant for social and economic development as it would help ensure the country's grain security, a rise in farming income and adequate market supply, said Hui. He made the remarks during a tour of eastern Jiangxi province, a major grain production base which has been stricken by continuous droughts this year. Hui ordered local governments to fully implement policies that would motivate farmers to... People’s Daily Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884613/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 02:51:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884120/posts (BEIJING) - Local authorities may have covered up outbreaks of a disease that has killed tens of thousands of pigs in China, the nation's chief vet said yesterday, but insisted there was no cause for panic. The highly infectious blue-ear pig disease has killed 68,000 pigs across China and led to another 175,000 being slaughtered, said Jia Youling, chief veterinary officer at the Ministry of Agriculture. Some Western press reports have said the number of infected pigs is much higher than the government has made public, citing the dramatic spike in pork prices in China this year as evidence. "Although... The Taipei Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884120/posts#comment Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:32:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884051/posts Deng Derong cracks his hard-boiled egg against the wooden table, peels it, and drops the contents into his steaming soup bowl. As his chopsticks stir the pungent broth, a line of customers head past his table to the counter at the back of his drab restaurant. Mr. Deng, a retired soldier who sports a white cotton trilby hat and black safari suit, bends to his morning bowl of beef noodle soup. The dish is a daily staple in Lanzhou, a city of 3.2 million stretched along the upper Yellow River,where generations of cooks have perfected its combination of hand-pulled noodles,... The Christian Science Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884051/posts#comment Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:46:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884043/posts (BEIJING) - Chinese state television has launched a weeklong series of programs dedicated to defending the country's reputation as a safe maker of global goods, pushing forward its campaign to woo back international trust. The first program was aired Sunday on China Central Television's economic channel and featured the head of a quality watchdog criticizing the recent furor over the quality of Chinese exports as "demonizing China's products." "Personally, I believe it is new trend in trade protectionism. Although recalls are necessary, it is unfair to decide that all products made in China are unqualified," Li Changjiang, director of the... Forbes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884043/posts#comment Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:31:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883583/posts Consumers should not eat one brand of baby carrots sold recently at Costco stores because of contamination by shigella, which causes fever, nausea and vomiting, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has warned. The carrots are labelled Los Angeles Salad Company Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots, and they come from Mexico. Costco has issued a voluntary recall of the carrots, which are known to have made four people sick. They were sold in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland. The carrots are sold in 672-gram bags, carrying these codes: ITM 50325, and UPC 8 31129 00137 7. The sell-by dates are... Canada.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883583/posts#comment Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:50:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883358/posts The organic industry has gone wild in the last decade, but you wouldn't know it at the Department of Agriculture. Despite year after year of double-digit growth, organics receive a pittance in financing and staff attention at the department, which is responsible for writing regulations about organics and making sure that they are upheld. The National Organic Program, which regulates the industry, has just nine staff members and an annual budget of $1.5 million. A Florida real estate developer named Maurice Wilder received more than that in farm subsidies in 2005, some $1,754,916, to be exact, according to a subsidy... Barre Montpelier Times Argus http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883358/posts#comment Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:35:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883271/posts The Bush administration is planning to call in customs officers to help overwhelmed health inspectors protect Americans from tainted imports of food, toys and other consumer goods, senior officials said Friday, describing a new strategy for dealing with compromised products. The evolving plan, to be delivered to President Bush next month by a task force he appointed, also is expected to call for wider deployment of sophisticated technology at entry points. Inspectors would use hand-held scanners to detect the presence of lead, arsenic and other dangerous substances in a range of products. The plan would emphasize the responsibility of U.S.... The Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883271/posts#comment Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:51:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883017/posts (BEIJING) - China sought to shore up its battered reputation as a global exporter Friday, releasing a policy paper that touted its past food safety record. The paper also noted the current campaign to crack down on bad food-processing practices. The policy paper, issued by the information office of the Cabinet, the State Council, lists a series of achievements and planned measures, from establishing a national food recall system to increasing exchanges with quality officials in other countries. Though the 39-page document broke little ground, its release underscores the communist leadership’s drive to salvage the “Made in China” label, which... The Kansas City Star http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883017/posts#comment Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:47:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882896/posts (BANGKOK) - Thai health authorities on Friday warned consumers to be cautious in buying foods imported from China, especially fruits and vegetables that may contain dangerously high levels of chemicals. The health ministry said random checks of more than 11,000 imported Chinese products contained higher levels of pesticides, food colouring and other chemicals than is allowed under Thai law. "We have conducted lab tests and found that many Chinese foods and other products contained chemicals that exceeded our standards," said Paijit Warachit, director general of the ministry's medical science department. "All of these contaminated products would endanger consumer health," he... The Brunei Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882896/posts#comment Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:16:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882453/posts Law would streamline regulations -- if it passes The apple-blackberry sauce sold widely in Seattle supermarkets, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture organic seal on the label, says it comes from Chino, Calif. It also says "Product of Canada." So how do you know where it's from? You don't. Dried banana chips are labeled as being from Sumner. But banana trees don't grow in Sumner. Peanut butter from Canada? There are no peanut farms in that country. Congress passed a law in 2002 saying that consumers were to be told where the food they buy comes from. But five years... Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882453/posts#comment Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:45:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882371/posts A grieving cat owner has filed action in federal court to force the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to “perform its duty” and investigate other toxins -- besides melamine -- as the culprit in this year’s massive pet food recall. Don Earl of Port Townsend, Washington, also wants the court to order the FDA to stop what he considers “all activities (by the agency) involving the destruction of critical pet food evidence.” Earl filed his petition for a Writ of Mandamus on August 9 in Washington’s Western District U.S. Court in Tacoma. Barron’s Law Dictionary defines this action as “an... ConsumerAffairs.Com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882371/posts#comment Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:29:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882322/posts Rene Kimura will buy American or Japanese, but she doesn't like picking up products made in China. "If it's made in China, I think twice about it," said Kimura, who checked the labels on jars of sesame seeds for the country of origin label at Uwajimaya on Wednesday. "I don't think they follow the same standards at the U.S. -- not that we're perfect." Her sister, on the other hand, doesn't give it a second thought. The recent spate of recalls involving Chinese-made toys, toothpaste, tires and pet food hasn't stopped Janet Anthony from buying Chinese products. When Mattel first... Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1882322/posts#comment Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:23:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881834/posts (CHENGDU, China) - A highly infectious swine virus is sweeping China's pig population...... The government in Beijing acknowledged that in the past year, the virus had decimated pig stocks in southern and coastal areas. But animal virus experts said that the Chinese authorities were playing down the gravity and spread of the outbreak, and had refused to cooperate with international scientists. "They haven't really explained what this virus is," said Federico Zuckermann, a professor of immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Illinois. "This is like SARS. They haven't sent samples to any international body. This... The International Herald Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881834/posts#comment Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:33:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881348/posts Under proposed new regulations Beijing authorities will offer rewards to people who provide tip-offs that lead to the prosecution of those who put public health at risk. It comes a day after a Chinese TV reporter, who fabricated a story about how Beijing dumpling makers used cardboard as a filling, was sentenced to one-year in jail. "Main government officials or managers will be warned, demoted or sacked if food safety accidents which cause a serious social impact happen frequently in their administered districts," the Beijing Youth Daily said. "One-third of the new regulation details punishments," said one senior official who... China Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881348/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:11:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881330/posts (NEW YORK) -- China Yingxia International, Inc. , a leading provider in the nutraceutical industry by engaging in the development, manufacture and distribution of organic nutritional food products, supplements, and personal care products in China, today announced that Ms. Yingxia Jiao, CEO and Chairwoman of China Yingxia, will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007. The conference call will take place at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, on Wednesday, August 15, 2007. Anyone interested in participating should call 1-866-328-4270 if calling within the United States, or 1-480-293-1744 if calling internationally, approximately... CNNMoney.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881330/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:31:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881312/posts A mystery involving monks, primates and a Carytown tea boutique. Somewhere atop China’s Fujian province, a weary traveler gathers leaves from tea trees growing along a ragged peak. He’s dizzy from the height and tired from the climb, but this tea — this tea might be worth it. The altitude and mountain water ensure a high quality, and the taste is distinctly fruity and sweet. Adding cream to this tea would be criminal. Satisfied, our traveler — all of 4 feet tall and 80 pounds — turns and begins his long descent. He is a monkey. No, really. In addition... Richmond Style Weekly http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881312/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:50:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881291/posts (TORONTO) - The fallout from a tainted pet food scandal hit Menu Foods Income Fund (MEW_u.TO: Quote) again on Tuesday, when its biggest customer said it would stop buying some of its products in the fourth quarter. The unnamed customer, whose total purchases made up nearly 10.8 percent of Menu Food's sales volume in 2006, said it would stop buying 'loaf' products from the company beginning October 1, Menu Foods said in a statement. Earlier this year, the same customer said it would stop purchases of other Menu Foods products. "Menu Foods is disappointed in the reaction of this customer... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881291/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:11:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881287/posts (BEIJING) - Chinese farming experts are considering planting potatoes instead of rice and wheat as a way to beat crippling drought each year, state media said on Tuesday. But the government would have to provide subsidies to persuade farmers to make the switch, they said. "The potato is more drought-resistant than rice and wheat, which suits China better as 60 percent of the country's arable land is dry," Qu Dongyu, a potato farming specialist with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. China, widely hit by summer floods, also suffers from a shortage... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881287/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:04:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881280/posts (BEIJING) - Chinese police raided a village where live pigs were force-fed wastewater to boost their weight ahead of a trip to the slaughterhouse, state media said, in the latest case to highlight the country's poor food safety record. Four trucks packed with 80 live pigs were found by Beijing police on Wednesday in a vacant lot on the southern outskirts of the capital, the Beijing Morning Post reported on Thursday. Plastic pipes had been forced down the pigs' throats and villagers had pumped each 100 kilogram pig with 20 kilograms of wastewater, the paper said. The case underscored China's... The Straits Times (Singapore) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881280/posts#comment Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:50:03 GMT