Yet another reason to hate Walmart

[enzfan]

I see where they were lobbying hard to block legislation that would require all foods sold to have labels identifying the country of origin. They are the leading importer of goods from China. In fact they are China's sixth largest trading partner, even larger than the countries of Germany and Great Britain. I know they are not the only large retailers importing from China, but they are the poster child for the negative publicity in recent months.

[shovelbum]

Please tell me why I, as a consumer, don't have a right to know where the food I am putting in my mouth came from.


"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." ~Robert Heinlein

[coop41]

[quote][i]Originally posted by shovelbum[/i]
<br>Please tell me why I, as a consumer, don't have a right to know where the food I am putting in my mouth came from.


[/quote]

What do you care, you never shop at WalMart? I'm sure the local Whole Foods store lists their country of origin explicitly[;)]

[shovelbum]

Duh. I care in a general way, which suggests that EVERY person has the right to know. Furhtermore, Walmart's attempt at blocking legislation prohibits EVERY consumer's right to know AND suggests they have something to hide. Their action states that they intend to FORCE food down people's throats, through mandated ignorance, rather than sell products that people really want.

On top of all that, there is the concern that the passing of such legislation could set a precident which would make it difficult for ME to buy my food anywhere (including Whole Foods, Publix, and Piggly Wiggly) and know from whence it came.

And then there is still the question of, "Why don't I have the RIGHT to know?" Such a simple question, such a simple right...

Now you know why I care. [;)][:)]

"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." ~Robert Heinlein

[DreamRedux]

Don't most food labels already have this information? [?]

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[cookie]

Check the laws carefully, we just (at least I did) that in Canada they can buy the food in China and package it elsewhere. When this happens they can put "packaged in ...." and you would not know which country the food actually came from. This apparently is perfectly legal but not necessarily ethical. [xx(]

[marie3]

It's not just Walmart lobbying, but the whole food industry. Apple juice no longer is made with apples from the United States. Guess where the apples are from? You got it, China. Though it does not state that on the bottle. The legislation is already passed, that the place of origin of the products used to make juice, cookies, whatever, be labled. But the government has yet to enforce it. (that's a surprise)

[KYYX4ever]

[quote][i]Originally posted by marie3[/i]
<br>It's not just Walmart lobbying, but the whole food industry. Apple juice no longer is made with apples from the United States. Guess where the apples are from? You got it, China. Though it does not state that on the bottle. The legislation is already passed, that the place of origin of the products used to make juice, cookies, whatever, be labled. But the government has yet to enforce it. (that's a surprise)
[/quote]
yah, I read that too. I wonder why the intense industry-wide lobbying ?[?]

[phillyidol]

Apples from China? Wouldn't it be cheaper for a company in the east (U.S.)to buy here? We have apple farms in Long Island and TONS of them around us. I would think it would be a lot cheaper and easier to buy from us.

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[marie3]

China owns us.

[club80]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Apples from China? Wouldn't it be cheaper for a company in the east (U.S.)to buy here? We have apple farms in Long Island and TONS of them around us. I would think it would be a lot cheaper and easier to buy from us.

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[/quote]


Hey Philly...does your picture represent you kicking the tar out of the moderators at that other message board?




We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-

[cookie]

[quote][i]Originally posted by club80[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Apples from China? Wouldn't it be cheaper for a company in the east (U.S.)to buy here? We have apple farms in Long Island and TONS of them around us. I would think it would be a lot cheaper and easier to buy from us.

<center><a href="http://www.skamu.com/icons/animated/"><img src="http://www.skamu.com/icons/animated/images/icon135.gif" alt="Skamu.com - The only place for Myspace icons, Orkut avatars, and profile codes" border=0></a><br><a href="http://www.skamu.com" target="_blank">Animated Avatars</a></center>
[/quote]


Hey Philly...does your picture represent you kicking the tar out of the moderators at that other message board?




We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-
[/quote]


I think he has a squirrel loose [:D]

[shovelbum]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Apples from China? Wouldn't it be cheaper for a company in the east (U.S.)to buy here? We have apple farms in Long Island and TONS of them around us. I would think it would be a lot cheaper and easier to buy from us.

<center><a href="http://www.skamu.com/icons/animated/"><img src="http://www.skamu.com/icons/animated/images/icon135.gif" alt="Skamu.com - The only place for Myspace icons, Orkut avatars, and profile codes" border=0></a><br><a href="http://www.skamu.com" target="_blank">Animated Avatars</a></center>
[/quote]

See this site: www.ncw.wsu.edu/treefruit/aplcrop.html :

"Washington produces about 42% of the apples grown in the United States, and 60% of those grown for fresh consumption.
Bearing apple acreage in Washington is estimated at about 192,000 acres, about 8,000 acres of apple orchards are non-bearing.
During 1997-2001, production averaged about 123,000,000 Bushels, with an average of 86,200,000 packed boxes sold as fresh, and 29,000,000 bushels (boxes) processed yearly. (Bushel = about 44 lbs-20Kg.)
Value of Washington apples as sold as fresh or processed product is estimated at about $1.2 billion yearly.
From 28 to 35 percent of the crop is exported yearly, with major markets in the Asian Pacific Rim, Canada, Mexico, and South America."

So what's going on? Are we selling our apples to China so they can sell them BACK to us??? [:0]





"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." ~Robert Heinlein

[SwampThing]

More info...
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/p ... led-labels



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[shovelbum]

Thanks, Swampthing.



"Man is not a rational animal, he is a rationalizing animal." ~Robert Heinlein