2008.09.30
Food origins revealed
How often do you wonder about your foods' roots?
Starting today, the origin of meats, fruits and vegetables and certain nuts will be revealed on grocery shelves nationwide. According to new federal legislation, known as country of origin labeling, uncooked meats, including beef, chicken, pork and lamb, fresh and frozen produce and several kinds of nuts, such as pecans and peanuts, must bear labels that state the country where the food item was born.
Lately, grocery retailers, including Ukrop’s Super Market and Save-A-Lot stores in Roanoke, have been working quickly to create signs or print labels to strategically place on or near meats, nuts and produce. They now must note food shipments as the items arrive from around the world, changing signage and labels accordingly.
For U.S. foods, labels state “Product of U.S.A.”
But you won’t find these labels on all required foods immediately. It only applies to products packaged after Sept. 30. And retailers and suppliers have a six-month grace period as they roll out this new information.
Click here for more details about country of origin labeling.
I think this is a great idea and one that is long past due.
However,one thing I do wish the FDA would require labeling of genetically engineered animals on food products.
Call me funny, I just like knowing if I am eating a genetically altered animal!
Source is here:
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_food_safety/006137.html
If you're unfamiliar with all of this, I highly suggest you google it and see what it is about.
A sample from that link:
"Genetically engineered animals may contain genetic material from entirely different species. For example mouse genes have been put into pigs to help them metabolize phosphorous more efficiently, and spider genes have been put into goats so that they produce spider silk in their milk."
Comment by Rigby — October 1, 2008 @ 11:32 am
"and spider genes have been put into goats so that they produce spider silk in their milk"
Ah yes, Silk. I see that on the local grocery shelves.
(just kidding...I know "Silk" is soy "milk")
Comment by Ed S. — October 1, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Yuk! I don't think I want to know about the mouse & spider genes. Or even how they do it.
In this case, for me, ignorance is bliss...
Comment by Steve — October 1, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Spider milk... lol. You had me going for a half a second, Ed S.
Speaking of food origins, did anyone see that PETA asked Ben and Jerry's to change their cow's milk to human breast milk? Can you say "Lactose Intolerant?"
Blechhhh!!!!!!!
Comment by Amy Hanek — October 1, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Yeah, pushing for human breast milk was a bit much.
For one thing, can you imagine how much milk they would have to produce to make as much Ben&Jerry's ice cream that is sold in grocery stores every day??
There'd have to be farms of women pumping milk all day every day to be able to fill that demand.
Well......guess that would be one way to jumpstart some jobs and money into the economy.
Mabe it's not such a bad idea after all!
kidding......
Comment by Rigby — October 1, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
I know what you mean Amy, but I find it funny that:
-We (many babies) drink human milk for the first part of our life, but after a few years we find the thought of drinking it somewhat gross
-As we turn our noses up at human milk, from women who typically take daily showers and general care of themselves...we happily drink milk that comes from a beast that spends most of its time outdoors...and I won't go into needless gross details of cow nature
Of course, the mental image of "human milking stations" for ice cream factories is also quite amusing.
Besides, I'm sure a cow likes to be milked. Who wants to walk around with a full, heavy udder all day?
Comment by Ed S. — October 1, 2008 @ 10:16 pm