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 Tainted wheat gluten found in U.S. food plants
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl

705 Posts

Robin
An organic farm in the forest in Maine
USA
705 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  10:37:15 AM  Show Profile
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/03/business/pets.php

ROCKVILLE, Maryland: The tainted wheat gluten that triggered a massive pet food recall also ended up in processing plants that prepare food consumed by people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.


Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com

Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl

3890 Posts

Karin
Ellenwood GA
USA
3890 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  10:56:49 AM  Show Profile
Well, of course it did. :( Just one more reason to buy local, grow your own and make your food from scratch.

Karin

Wherever you go, there you are.
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl

705 Posts

Robin
An organic farm in the forest in Maine
USA
705 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  11:02:29 AM  Show Profile
Karin, that's EXACTLY what I thought when I read it. "Of COURSE it did." Didn't we all know it was just a matter of time.

Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com

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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl

22941 Posts

Alee
Worland Wy
USA
22941 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  11:19:06 AM  Show Profile  Send Alee a Yahoo! Message
My fiance told me about this last night! He made a good point. He said "Is it that pets are getting human grade food or are humans getting pet grade food? I think humans are getting fed pet grade food." I agree with him! With as much wheat that is grown in the United States- why did wheat get imported from China to be used in our food processing plants? It doesn't make sense to me. I am so glad that we have a wonderful co-op here in town and that I love to cook and bake! Maybe scares like this will help educate others about the benefits of locally grown foods.

Alee
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl

766 Posts

Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  11:31:28 AM  Show Profile
For the same reason there's been talk about sending our chicken to China for processing, then sent back. People don't want to pay US prices...they only want to earn it!

The problem is that we've become so dependent on a few people to do our growing, and we don't expect them to earn the same wages. Oh, we can say "Of course I'll pay you", but in reality, no one does. We'd rather buy it for less from someone else. And that someone else is China.



Visit Quiet Storm, our adopted Mustang! http://wildaboutquietstorm.com

http://carpentercreek.blogspot.com http://mustangdiaries.blogspot.com http://marbletownangels.blogspot.com


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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl

1646 Posts

Diane
Victoria BC
Canada
1646 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  11:41:17 AM  Show Profile
I don't believe for a minute that we have been told all that is known about this tainted wheat gluten, or any other health hazard in our food for that matter. Think of the mass panic and multi-million dollar losses to major food processors if it were to be released to the public that this wheat gluten was sent to their plants. I'm sure some power that be somewhere has determined that the quantity of melamine in the end product won't hurt a human, so "what they don't know won't hurt them".
I don't mean to sound so negative, but I don't trust them at all.
Di
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Aunt George
True Blue Farmgirl

1476 Posts

Georgann
Midlothian VA
1476 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  11:52:39 AM  Show Profile
This is a scary scenario in the scary times in which we live. There are times when I start believing in all of the conspiracy theorists versions of these things when we see something like this. We have been changing our habits to eating less, buying less, preparing from scratch more. Time to escalate our self protective behavior!

Hadn't heard this yet (tainted gluten to human food sources too), so thanks for the heads up!!

G

http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings!
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl

4331 Posts

Janice
Louisville/Irvington Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  1:42:01 PM  Show Profile  Send Miss Bee Haven a Yahoo! Message
I agree with Diane. The money(profit) is the bottom line.

"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl

705 Posts

Robin
An organic farm in the forest in Maine
USA
705 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  1:48:30 PM  Show Profile
I don't think you're negative, Diane. You're realistic.

Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com

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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl

1681 Posts

michele
farmingdale n.j.
USA
1681 Posts

Posted - Apr 03 2007 :  1:59:27 PM  Show Profile
I knew it was a matter of time & Diane, you are not negative, I agree w/ you 100%. Robin, thanks for the link. This makes me so mad.

she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl

1681 Posts

michele
farmingdale n.j.
USA
1681 Posts

Posted - Apr 05 2007 :  04:46:12 AM  Show Profile
now "they" are trying to say there is nothing concrete to scare people. Another cover-up.

she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13
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Vintage Redhead
True Blue Farmgirl

233 Posts

Kaylyn
Saint Charles IL
USA
233 Posts

Posted - Apr 05 2007 :  12:22:07 PM  Show Profile
I'm don't think that any of us are extremist. And I don't think that there is any deliberate "cover-up" either. I think that unfortunately, there are very few people smart and willing enough to look at the *entire chain* to get a handle on exactly how big this can get...and probably already is but hasn't quite "erupted" yet. I think what the spin-doctors expect of the American public is that for so many years, we weren't smart enough to put all of the links together. Well, we are. Problem is that we got complacent because it was just easier that way. (I hope I don't offend with my example being male gender specific with but...if women controlled the nations food supply, it would be a lot more simple.) Look at how complicated it is for a moment. No wonder we're complacent:

Q. Where is the food I eat grown?
A. Don't know.

Q. Where is the food I eat processed?
A. Don't know.

Q. What is the cleanliness record of the facility / facilities where my food is processed?
A. Don't know.

Q. What is in the food I eat? (e.g. pesticides, radiation, food cross-contamination, etc.)
A. Don't know.

Q. Is the food I am eating genetically engineered / altered? (that could even be anything as simple as a specific variety of sweet corn to an apple that is supposed to stay fresher longer.)
A. Don't know.

Q. How many different middle-men are involved with the handling of my food from the point it is grown to the point it appears on my grocery shelves in it's final form?
A. Don't know.

Q. How is my food transported to and from all of the different middle men?
A. Don't know.

Q. How long does it take for my food to get from terre to table?
A. Don't know.

Q. Can any of my food ever really be fully tracked backwards from its final product to its point of origin?
A. Don't know.

Q. Is my food cross-contaminated with any other food? (e.g. are corn and soybeans being accidentally mixed together because transportation vessels aren't being cleaned thoroughly? etc.)
A. Don't know.

Q. Do the purveyors of my food know their suppliers, or are they just involved in a bidding war?
A. Don't know.
Q. If my food is being processed overseas, can the U.S.D.A. ensure that foreign health & safety standards are consistent with those *allegedly* enforced here in the U.S.?
A. Don't know.

Q. If my food is being imported and everything allegedly tastes like chicken anyway, how do I even know that I'm even getting chicken anymore?
A. Don't know.

Sorry, I know that last one seems to make light of the situation, but it really isn't! How do I know anymore that pre-packaged frozen meatloaf isn't just some sort of frankenstein patty of various animal parts shaped into a loaf and slammed into a cold case?

We found these out because DH was a teaching assistant while we were in college. One of his students gave a speech about what happens behind the scenes at the local discount grocer. There was a something called "Sandwich Spread" sold at the discount grocery store. We used to get it quite often because it was cheap...cheaper than the ham salad sold next to it. (Okay, I know...that should have been our first clue, right?!!?) Well, it was *left-over* unsold cold cuts, meats dropped *on the floor* and other *bits* all ground together and mixed with a small amount of strawberry gelatin to color it look like ham salad. I can't eat eggs any more unless I know where they come from. Did you know they switch them out when they're past date and mix them in with fresh ones? Never mind that it's illegal or could make you sick with salmonella...it's about the bottom line. And who is there to ask questions, anyway?

On a semi-related topic: Daimler-Chrysler is looking for a buyer for their U.S. operations. What is interesting is that they are the American motor company who has lost the fewest in billions over the past three fiscal years. This could *literally* be the death knell for American automotive manufacturing.

So how are these two related? Well, much of our food is going overseas for production. Many of our cars are already made overseas. Lots of our computer programming jobs have moved overseas. The term "outsourcing" has become part of our permanent lexicon. I fear that we are either headed for a major depression within the next ten years or we're staring down the barrel of the end of times. Truth be told: I'm scared either way.



~ Kaylyn ~ (Living in Suburbia with a FARMGIRL Heart!)

My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com

Edited by - Vintage Redhead on Apr 05 2007 12:25:12 PM
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl

705 Posts

Robin
An organic farm in the forest in Maine
USA
705 Posts

Posted - Apr 05 2007 :  3:24:08 PM  Show Profile
That's a lot of don't knows which is a whole lot of scary. Food isn't supposed to be hazardous to our health but how are we supposed to know it's safe if we know nothing of its origin. You've given everyone a lot of important things to think about.

quote:
with a small amount of strawberry gelatin to color it look like ham salad.

As though it wasn't bad enough, they added gelatin? ohhhhh.....

We don't eat gelatin. Hooves and bones are more than I can get past.

quote:
I can't eat eggs any more unless I know where they come from. Did you know they switch them out when they're past date and mix them in with fresh ones?

A quick way to check for freshness - shake the egg. It won't rattle around inside the shell if it's fresh.

Meat is often legally repackaged with a new expiration date. In the stores here, you know it's on its way to the dumpster when you find the instant coupons on the package.

Local. Local. Local.

Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com

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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl

1681 Posts

michele
farmingdale n.j.
USA
1681 Posts

Posted - Apr 05 2007 :  5:11:07 PM  Show Profile
Robin, my husband & I watched a guy in the meat dept. do the very same thing you mentioned w/ the meat. He took it off the shelves, dipped it in bread crumbs & re-wrapped it. Made us sick! It's unbelievable what they do.

she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13
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Vintage Redhead
True Blue Farmgirl

233 Posts

Kaylyn
Saint Charles IL
USA
233 Posts

Posted - Apr 05 2007 :  9:19:58 PM  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by westernhorse51
Robin, my husband & I watched a guy in the meat dept. do the very same thing you mentioned w/ the meat. He took it off the shelves, dipped it in bread crumbs & re-wrapped it. Made us sick!

Oh, gross!!!

quote:
Originally posted by westernhorse51It's unbelievable what they do.

And yet strangely...getting more and more believable every day at the same time. Kinda weird that way, isn't it? ~K


~ Kaylyn ~ (Living in Suburbia with a FARMGIRL Heart!)

My Cause: http://nickspavilion.blogspot.com/
My Life: http://vintageredhead.blogspot.com
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