They Arrived

Finally, a store that listens to its customers.

Trader Joe's to Ban Some Chinese Imports

Trader Joe's grocery stores are dropping foods from China to satisfy customers concerned about the quality of that country's products after last year's spate of problems.

By April 1, Trader Joe's will phase out single-ingredient Chinese imports such as garlic, frozen organic spinach, ginger and edamame, a green soybean, says spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki. The ban doesn't include products with ingredients from China, a leading source of vitamins and minerals used in many processed foods.

With 285 stores in 23 states, Trader Joe's is known for good prices on a wide selection of exotic items, from Australian licorice to Indian pilaf. Trader Joe's says the products it bought from China were safe. But "our customers have voiced their concerns about products from this region, and we have listened," Mochizuki said.


Federal regulators last year warned about contaminated Chinese pet food ingredients, fish containing antibiotics not allowed in human food, and toothpaste laced with a chemical used in antifreeze.

Trader Joe's stance isn't likely to be widely copied. Major grocers depend on a global market to meet consumer demands for variety. Instead of relying upon blanket bans, retailers say they must choose product sources carefully and check that safety standards are met.

"There are good suppliers and there are bad suppliers in any country," says Jeanne Colleluori, a spokeswoman for Wegmans Food Markets.

It dropped Chinese garlic last year because of consumer concerns. Sales of other Chinese products, such as frozen tilapia, a fish, have stayed strong, Colleluori says.

Trader Joe's wouldn't say what percentage of single-ingredient items came from China.

Whole Foods (Quote: wfmi) says 2% of its private-label items come from China. Like Wegmans, it says it relies on strong sourcing policies to ensure safety.

China is a leading exporter of garlic, apple juice and seafood, but probably supplies less than 1% of the USA's food, says the Agriculture Department.

Still, China's products show up often in food recalls, Food and Drug Administration data show. Of the 14 food recalls tracked by the FDA since Dec. 1, four of the eight identified as imports were from China. Products from India, Mexico, Turkey and the USA were also recalled, indicating that any country can face food-safety challenges.

Major grocers depend on a global market to meet consumer demands for variety is a farce.

If the consumers had any idea where the variety came from, I suspect they would not buy it.

We just had tilapia and were not smart enough to ask the store where it came from. Do you ever ask? Do you think they would know if you did ask?

The solution to our problem is to ban imports and produce our own. I'm sure there is some kind of fish not imported from China.

Also, I for one would like fruit that tastes like the fruit it is supposed to be, not just some drab mush.

There is an old expression "You are what you eat" so I guess that means I will be able to speak Chinese soon!!!!



How about this import?

Turtle Swims From Indonesia to Oregon

BANGKOK, Thailand - A leatherback turtle has been tracked swimming from the coast of the Papua province in Indonesia to Oregon, researchers said, in what may be the longest trip for marine vertebrae between breeding and feeding sites.

"This is an animal perfectly suited for doing this kind of journey," said Scott Benson, research fishery biologist for the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, who helped track the turtle and presented details of the journey at a sea turtle symposium last month.

The longest distance of nine turtles tagged in 2003, Benson said, was the leatherback that reached Oregon and then headed to Hawaii before the battery on the satellite transmitter gave out. The 12,774-mile journey took 647 days, he said.

By my calculator that is just under 20 miles a day. I thought turtles were slow.

And where is the rabbit? Oh wait, that was the tortoise and the hare.

The battery on the satellite transmitter gave out - it probably had the energizer bunny battery!!!

Important announcement:

For all the men out there this will serve as a reminder, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. No matter that it is a Hallmark Holiday and no matter you have been told they don't want anything special, you better remember or you will suffer. You have been warned!!