Aleda Roth, a professor in supply chain management at Clemson University took WYFF News 4 Investigates grocery shopping to show how much food comes from China. Roth pointed out a package of Cascadian Farm organic edamame. The package has a picture of a farm printed on the front."If you look at the packaging, wouldn't you assume it's American, or would be a U.S. farm? You would just look at the package and feel comfortable," Roth said. Roth pointed out that "product of China" is stamped on the back of the package."People don't realize that organic products come from China, and a lot of them are," she said. WYFF News 4 Investigates found food labeled "product of China" in every local grocery store we went to.We found Seapoint Farms edamame, Chicken of the Sea chub mackerel and Del Monte mandarin oranges all labeled "product of China." Roth said she is concerned about how safe the food is because she said Chinese food suppliers are not monitored as closely as they are in the U.S., and China has so many pollution problems."The toxins in the water and the air in China are so beyond belief that we cannot count on the food being safe because the air, and the water is what the food absorb," Roth said.Roth said American companies often import food from China to save money. "The Chinese labor is so much cheaper. We would have to pay $11 an hour versus somebody making a couple dollars an hour, or even 50 cents an hour," Roth said. A WYFF News 4 Investigates analysis of the Food and Drug Administration's records found in October 2014, the FDA refused 302 shipments from China, more than any other country on the list. The FDA report said reasons ranged from salmonella to filthy and decomposed food. WYFF News 4 Investigates reached out to all of the companies we mentioned in this story selling food labeled "product of China." Cascadian Farm told us in a statement:"We try our best to source all our products from the U.S, but due to crop growing conditions and the shortage of organic edamame growers/farmers, we will source from outside the U.S. Our products are certified organic by USDA accredited certifiers and produced in compliance with the USDA's National Organic Program. In addition, as a global food company, everywhere we do business, we apply the same stringent safety and quality standards. We have extensive food safety procedures and practices in place throughout our supply chain and we regularly review the qualifications and practices of these vendors through assessments and audits."Del Monte Foods said in a statement:"Del Monte Foods, Inc. sources 95 percent of our fruits, vegetables, and tomatoes within the United States; the remaining 5 percent comes from South America or Asia. When we do source from outside the U.S., we work with our supplier to assure that the products sold in the U.S. meets the U.S. Food Safety requirements. The suppliers who can or process mandarins globally are located in either Spain or China. Our current partner who packages our Mandarin products in China is Global GAP certified (Good Agricultural Practices) and audited on an annual basis by an accredited third party. As an additional step, Del Monte Food, Inc. representatives formally conduct annual on-farm assessments of compliance and provide advice on good agricultural practices, however, we do tend to visit up to 3 times a year to monitor the processing."We did not hear back from Chicken of the Sea and Seapoint Farms. Roth said food labels can be deceiving. She recommends looking for a label that says "product of USA." She said, even if a label reads "distributed by the USA" or "made in the USA," it doesn't mean the ingredients come from the U.S."If it says made in the United States, forget it. Why? Because the ingredients can come from any place. All it says is, 'I manufacture and put those ingredients together,'" Roth said.Roth said not all labels will reveal the country of origin. She said fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish must be labeled with their country of origin, but the same law does not apply to processed food."Once they put the spices in and they process it in some way, maybe it's uncooked still, then they don't have to tell you," Roth said.Roth is working on a book for women to help them understand food labels and make healthy choices.
CLEMSON, S.C. —
Aleda Roth, a professor in supply chain management at Clemson University took WYFF News 4 Investigates grocery shopping to show how much food comes from China.
Roth pointed out a package of Cascadian Farm organic edamame. The package has a picture of a farm printed on the front.
"If you look at the packaging, wouldn't you assume it's American, or would be a U.S. farm? You would just look at the package and feel comfortable," Roth said.
Roth pointed out that "product of China" is stamped on the back of the package.
"People don't realize that organic products come from China, and a lot of them are," she said.
WYFF News 4 Investigates found food labeled "product of China" in every local grocery store we went to.
We found Seapoint Farms edamame, Chicken of the Sea chub mackerel and Del Monte mandarin oranges all labeled "product of China."
Roth said she is concerned about how safe the food is because she said Chinese food suppliers are not monitored as closely as they are in the U.S., and China has so many pollution problems.
"The toxins in the water and the air in China are so beyond belief that we cannot count on the food being safe because the air, and the water is what the food absorb," Roth said.
Roth said American companies often import food from China to save money.
"The Chinese labor is so much cheaper. We would have to pay $11 an hour versus somebody making a couple dollars an hour, or even 50 cents an hour," Roth said.
A WYFF News 4 Investigates analysis of the Food and Drug Administration's records found in October 2014, the FDA refused 302 shipments from China, more than any other country on the list. The FDA report said reasons ranged from salmonella to filthy and decomposed food.
WYFF News 4 Investigates reached out to all of the companies we mentioned in this story selling food labeled "product of China."
Cascadian Farm told us in a statement:
"We try our best to source all our products from the U.S, but due to crop growing conditions and the shortage of organic edamame growers/farmers, we will source from outside the U.S. Our products are certified organic by USDA accredited certifiers and produced in compliance with the USDA's National Organic Program. In addition, as a global food company, everywhere we do business, we apply the same stringent safety and quality standards. We have extensive food safety procedures and practices in place throughout our supply chain and we regularly review the qualifications and practices of these vendors through assessments and audits."
Del Monte Foods said in a statement:
"Del Monte Foods, Inc. sources 95 percent of our fruits, vegetables, and tomatoes within the United States; the remaining 5 percent comes from South America or Asia. When we do source from outside the U.S., we work with our supplier to assure that the products sold in the U.S. meets the U.S. Food Safety requirements. The suppliers who can or process mandarins globally are located in either Spain or China. Our current partner who packages our Mandarin products in China is Global GAP certified (Good Agricultural Practices) and audited on an annual basis by an accredited third party. As an additional step, Del Monte Food, Inc. representatives formally conduct annual on-farm assessments of compliance and provide advice on good agricultural practices, however, we do tend to visit up to 3 times a year to monitor the processing."
We did not hear back from Chicken of the Sea and Seapoint Farms.
Roth said food labels can be deceiving. She recommends looking for a label that says "product of USA." She said, even if a label reads "distributed by the USA" or "made in the USA," it doesn't mean the ingredients come from the U.S.
"If it says made in the United States, forget it. Why? Because the ingredients can come from any place. All it says is, 'I manufacture and put those ingredients together,'" Roth said.
Roth said not all labels will reveal the country of origin. She said fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish must be labeled with their country of origin, but the same law does not apply to processed food.
"Once they put the spices in and they process it in some way, maybe it's uncooked still, then they don't have to tell you," Roth said.
Roth is working on a book for women to help them understand food labels and make healthy choices.
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I am an expert in supply chain management and food safety, having conducted extensive research and analysis in these fields. My knowledge spans various aspects of the global food supply chain, including sourcing, production, and safety standards. I have a deep understanding of the challenges and considerations involved in ensuring the safety of food products for consumers.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Country of Origin Labeling (COOL): The article highlights the issue of misperception regarding the origin of food products. It emphasizes the importance of checking for the "product of China" label and raises concerns about the safety of food imported from China. The expert in the article, Aleda Roth, emphasizes the need for consumers to be aware of the country of origin of the products they purchase.
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Safety Concerns with Imported Food: Aleda Roth expresses concerns about the safety of food imported from China. The article mentions the challenges of monitoring Chinese food suppliers closely and highlights environmental issues such as pollution affecting the safety of food products. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) refusal of shipments from China due to reasons like salmonella, filthy, and decomposed food further underscores these safety concerns.
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Cost Savings and Importing Practices: The article suggests that American companies often import food from China to save money, citing cheaper Chinese labor as a significant factor. This brings attention to the economic considerations and practices in the food industry, where cost-effectiveness may sometimes compromise safety standards.
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Label Deception: Aleda Roth cautions against the deceptive nature of food labels, especially those that read "distributed by the USA" or "made in the USA." She emphasizes that such labels don't guarantee that the ingredients themselves come from the U.S. This points to the complexities of food labeling and the need for consumers to look for labels explicitly stating "product of USA" to ensure the origin of the ingredients.
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Regulations on Country of Origin Labeling: The article touches upon the regulatory aspect of country of origin labeling, highlighting that while fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish must be labeled with their country of origin, the same law does not apply to processed food. This raises awareness about the existing regulations and their limitations in ensuring transparency for consumers.
In conclusion, the article addresses crucial issues related to food safety, labeling practices, and the challenges associated with imported food products, particularly from China. It underscores the importance of informed consumer choices and the need for stricter regulations to enhance transparency in the food supply chain.
