What’s in a name – 3

….our friend Jim Yancey of Cooney Creek Farm chimes in with some related information about misleading labels.  These things apparently have been around for awhile but I have never focused on them.

We “googled” and can vouch for the authenticity of at least these items, starting with the  Jolly Green Giant….I mean, what could be more American than the Jolly Green Giant?

“Green  Giant frozen vegetables are from China.

Never buy the grocery store garlic  unless it is clearly marked from USA or Canada; the other  stuff is grown in people poop (even worse than chicken  poop). China is the largest producer of garlic in the  world.

 Buy only local honey, most  honey is shipped in in huge containers from China and  re-packed here.

Watch  out for packages which state “prepared for”, “packed by”  or “imported by”. The country of  origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store.                          

How is it possible to  ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in  the U.S. or Canada?

MOST FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA, VIET NAM OR INDONESIA.  THE PACKAGE MAY SAY “PACIFIC SALMON” ON THE FRONT, BUT  LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM  FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON  WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH.                  

 Recently The Montreal  Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how  Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates  over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken poop. 

If you search the internet you can learn what else the Chinese  feed their fish: growth hormones and expired antibiotics made for humans. Never buy any type of  fish or shellfish that comes from these countries:  Vietnam, China, Philippines.

Finally, beware,  Costco sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar  that come from China.”

There was a good deal more on Jim’s list but, as I said, we were able to confirm the above and finally concluded caveat emptor is alive and well at the supermarket despite the thousands of worthless regulations..  Our trade with China is important, of course, and that combined with the cost-savings, explains why our government is on board with the food industry’s war on local, small farms.