The China card

While fresh exports to the U.S. are limited, China is the number one fruit and vegetable exporter in the world. China has not had an unblemished record for food safety. Ergo, any industry attempts to derail country of origin labeling must answer the China question. Exactly why don't you want consumers to know where their fresh fruits and vegetables come from? While we would like to believe COOL is not about food safety, the argument has been reduced to that level because of FDA's credibility gap and China's well publicized problems.

Here is another piece from Canada's CBC detailing some of China's food safety challenges.

From the story:

But it's not just gluten people are worried about - China is now the world's No. 1 exporter of fruits and vegetables. If you're eating frozen peas, fresh garlic, or drinking apple juice, there's a good chance that food was grown in China. Then there's the additives. If you're chewing gum sweetened with Xylitol, for example, chances are the sweetener comes from China. If your food has been fortified with Folic Acid ... chances are that Vitamin B comes from China. And of course, you'll never know it from reading the label.
China has defended the integrity of its food supply, of course. But there are signs it is responding to international pressure - everything from the dramatic death sentence imposed on the head of its food and drug agency, to this week's announcements about new food recall programs. At stake economically? A 30 billion dollar a year export trade in food and drugs. The questions remain however. With China the world's new bread basket, just how safe is our food?


TK; With elections coming up in 2008, I can't believe members of Congress want to touch the mandatory COOL law with a 10-foot pole. It may be a longshot to think the industry can get a voluntary replacement law, even with mandatory triggers.