We're blessed with the safest food in the world

If you think this is a “flag-waving, high-fiving, I’m proud to be an American” salute to the quality of the U.S. food supply, do yourself a favor and stop now. You’re going to be sorely disappointed.

OK, so I am proud to be an American. I owe that bit of luck to my ancestors who had the good sense to flee England in the early 1800’s and settle in eastern Tennessee.

But this “safest food supply in the world” nonsense? We’ve been patting ourselves on our collective backs with that old saw for so long that we took our eyeballs off the target. And the target moved. To the other side of the world.

Sure, during the first two thirds of the twentieth century, that was a defendable statement. We grew most of our own food. After stumbling during the first decade of the 1900’s, the responsible government agencies were well-funded and anxious to prove their worth. The rest of the world was struggling through the causes and effects of two massive wars and the great American Midwest was truly the world’s breadbasket.

Now, as we enter the early stages of the twenty-first century, we’ve become the world’s leading glutton, inhaling a disproportionate share of all the food crops and energy resources the planet can muster. We’ve become enamored of fruits and vegetables the year around, forgetting that it’s all a seasonal thing. Much of our food supply now comes from exotic ports of call.

We import grapes from Chile, beef from Argentina and Australia, poultry from Brazil, cattle and hogs from Mexico and Canada, wheat from Asia – the list is staggering. The controls are geopolitically correct, meaning unverifiable in to many cases.

Remember President Reagan’s famous ‘borrowed-from-Damon Runyon’ statement about dealing with our trading partners? “Trust, but verify.”

We trust but we can’t verify.

The responsible government agencies are under funded for the work they have to do so they rely more and more on U.S. based food suppliers to be vigilant about self-policing about the ingredients they're importing. Call me naïve but I really think 95% of them can be trusted to do the right thing. That last 5%, though, scares the hell out of me. The #1 item driving their corporate decision-making process is the bottom line for the next quarter. The health and welfare of the consuming public is to far down on their list and they will take dangerous shortcuts to make sure their products find their way into your cupboard.

The real problem we have to face is the fact that the American food supply has become a world-sourced food supply. It’s grapes from California and grapes from Chile - beef from Texas and beef from Alberta - wheat from Kansas and wheat from China – ham from Virginia and ham from Eastern Europe. And all of it finds its way into the same huge mixing bowl.

If we want to make that “safest food supply in the world” mantra a true and accurate statement again, we’ve got to seriously ramp up our internal oversights and become absolutely persnickety about Mr. Reagan’s comment. We must carefully select trading partners that we can trust…but verify, verify, verify nonetheless.

So, please, until we can get back to where we were a half century ago, let’s put that “safest food” thing on the storage room shelf where it belongs.

The bad news? The list of recalls, withdrawals and alerts for human and pet foods during the last 60 days is long and troublesome. The good news for our industry? Only 8 items involving meat and poultry for human consumption have been recalled this year.

Recalls, Withdrawals and Alerts in the Last 60 Days:
This list includes the most significant product actions of the last 60 days, based on the extent of distribution and the degree of health risk. The recalls on the list are mainly Class I. A record of all recalls can be found in the FDA Enforcement Report.

Pet Food Recall Information

FDA's Pilot Program to Better Educate Consumers About Recalled Food Products
2007

Menu Foods Voluntarily Recalls Additional Pet Food made with ChemNutra Wheat Gluten (April 10, 2007)

Del Monte Pet Products Modifies Voluntary Recall List (April 6, 2007)

Harry & David Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Harry and David Dark Chocolate Clusters The Ultimate Walnut Cherry Caramel Indulgence for Undeclared Peanuts And Cashews (April 6, 2007)

All Menu Foods Pet Food with ChemNutra Wheat Gluten Voluntarily Recalled (April 5, 2007)

FDA Issues Health Hazard Alert for Pet Chews Due to Contamination with Salmonella (April 5, 2007)

Sunshine Mills, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Branded and Private Label Branded Dog Biscuits (April 5, 2007)

Energy Club, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert Due to Undeclared Sulfites in their Healthy California Mix and Raisin Nut Mix (April 4, 2007)

ChemNutra Announces Nationwide Wheat Gluten Recall (April 3, 2007)

Consumer Alert: Undeclared Sulfites in Energy Club Brand Healthy California Mix (April 3, 2007)

Greenleaf Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Lemon Bars (April 2, 2007)

Del Monte Pet Products Voluntarily Withdraws Specific Product Codes of Pet Treats and Wet Dog Food Products (March 30, 2007)

Eight In One Announces Nationwide Recall of All Lots Of Dingo® Chick’n Jerky Treats for Dogs, Cats And Ferrets (March 30, 2007)

Alpo® Brand Prime Cuts In Gravy Canned Dog Food Voluntary Nationwide Recall (March 30, 2007)

FDA Finds Melamine in Wheat Gluten used by Hill's Pet Nutrition (March 30, 2007)

Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Single Product, Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline Dry Food, Only Product Containing Wheat Gluten (March 30, 2007)

Consumer Alert: Undeclared Milk in Lorenzo's Brand Mexican Breads (March 29,
2007)

Consumer Alert: Undeclared Milk in Certain Healthy Corner Foods Salads and Sandwiches (March 29, 2007)

Guida's Milk and Ice Cream Withdraws Guida Label Lowfat Chocolate Half-Pint Containers Due to Possible Presence of Food Grade Sanitizer (March 28, 2007)

Nationwide Recall of Cerignola, Nocellara and Castelvetrano Olives Because of Possible Health Risk (March 27, 2007)

Southeast Asian Foods Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Liquid Egg White In Fish Paste, Fish Ball and Fish Cake Products (March 27, 2007)

Drug Safety Information: Ketek (telithromycin) (March 26, 2007)

Menu Foods Initiates Market Withdrawal of All Varieties of Recalled Wet Pet Food to Ensure Consumer Protection (March 24, 2007)

FDA Warns Again About Arsenic in Mineral Water (March 24, 2007)

Petrapport Issues Recall of Pig Ear Dog Treats Because of Salmonella Contamination (March 23, 2007)

Harry London Candies and Macy's Issue Nationwide Allergy Alert on Frango® Cheggs Chocolate and Chocolate-Covered Egg-Shaped Candies (March 23, 2007)

FiberChoice Plus Multivitamins Issues Allergy Alert Fish Allergen Not Declared on Label (March 20, 2007)

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods' Nationwide U.S. recall of Specific Canned Cat Foods (March 17, 2007)

Recall of Pet Foods Manufactured by Menu Foods, Inc. (March 17, 2007)

MDA Issues Consumer Advisory on Potato Salad (March 16, 2007)

Purina to Voluntarily Withdraw Mighty Dog® 5.3 Ounce Pouch Products in Response to Menu Foods Recall (March 16, 2007)

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods’ Nationwide U.S. and Canadian recall of Specific Canned Cat Foods (March 16, 2007)

P&G Pet Care Announces Voluntary Participation in Menu Foods' Nationwide U.S. and Canadian Recall of Specific Canned and Small Foil Pouch 'Wet' Cat and Dog Foods (March 16, 2007)

Menu Foods Issues Recall of Specific Can and Small Foil Pouch Wet Pet Foods (March 16, 2007)

Ben & Jerry’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Ben & Jerry’s Country Peach Cobbler Ice Cream: Peach Ice Cream With Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Pieces & A Peach Swirl (March 16, 2007)

Cosmos Trading, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Rhino Max (Rhino V Max), a Product Marketed as a Dietary Supplement (March 16, 2007)

Barodon SF Issues A Voluntary Nationwide Recall of V.MAX, a Product Marketed as Dietary Supplement (March 15, 2007)

Gretchen's Shoebox Express Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soybean in Tuna and Garden Salad Mixer, Sold Exclusively to Amtrak (March 15, 2007)

WinCo Foods Recalls Bread in California and Nevada (March 9, 2007)

Safeway Recalls Bread in Parts of California and Nevada (March 9, 2007)

Continental Mills Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in GFS Buttermilk Pancake Mix (March 9, 2007)

FDA Update on Peanut Butter Recall (March 9, 2007)

Frito-Lay Issues Voluntary Recall of 2 oz. Bags of Fritos Original Corn Chips in 2 States Due to Undeclared Milk and Wheat (March 9, 2007)

BJ's Wholesale Club Issues Recall of "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig Ears Dog Treats Because of Potential for Salmonella Contamination (March 9, 2007)

Flora Foods Recalls “Cerignola” Olives Because of Possible Health Risk (March 8, 2007)

Consumer Alert: Undeclared Sulfites in "Dried Potato" (March 7, 2007)

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Drink "Jermuk" brand Mineral Water (March 7, 2007)

Cibo Specialty Foods Issues Nationwide Alert on Potential Botulism Risk Associated with Specific Lots from Eight Varieties of Dal Raccolto Brand Olives (March 6, 2007)

FDA Investigating Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Oysters (March 2, 2007)

PA Department of Health Warns Consumers of Tainted Raw Milk Sold by York County Dairy (March 2, 2007)

Consumer Alert: Undeclared Sulfites in Denise Brand Dyno Mix (March 1, 2007)

Simply Fresh Fruit Inc. Announces the Recall of Fresh Cut Fruit Trays Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination (March 1, 2007)

FDA Update on Peanut Butter Recall (March 1, 2007)

FDA Update on Salmonella Outbreak Linked to All Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Certain Lot Numbers of Great Value Brand Peanut Butter (February 23, 2007)

Castle Produce Announces the Recall of Cantaloupe Melons Due to Salmonella Contamination (February 23, 2007)

Daiei Trading-Chicago-Co. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Bean Cracker (Itomo Mame Mix) (February 22, 2007)

Americas Kitchen Recalls "Wellsley Farms" Green Bean Casserole Because Of Possible Health Risk (February 22, 2007)

Media Statement on Voluntary Withdrawal of Giant Eagle Egg Free Pasta Ribbons (February 20, 2007)

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Certain Jars of Earth's Best: "Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast Baby Food" (February 16, 2007)

Update on Salmonella Outbreak and Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter (February 16, 2007)

Wild Kitty Cat Food Issues Nationwide Recall of Cat Foods Due to Salmonella Contamination (February 16, 2007)

Recall of Cantaloupes Due to Potential Health Concerns (February 16, 2007)

Vita Specialty Foods, Inc. Issues an Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Certain Vita Specialty Foods, Inc.'s Sauces (February 16, 2007)

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter (February 14, 2007)

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Use Wild Kitty Cat Food Due to Salmonella Contamination (February 13, 2007)

Vintage Food Corp. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Elmas Brand Apricots (February 12, 2007)

Complete Spinach/E. coli Information

Complete list of Almond Recalls

Complete List of Konjac Candy Recalls