Food is vital to every living creature. Even the smallest living organism needs food in form or another. While fungi may find their food using the most natural means, people generally have to go shopping to gather their food. Before you buy yours it is important to consider where your food comes from. Your food choices may cost more than you think.
How Much of Our Food Is Imported?
Over the past few decades, imported goods have been on the rise. Approximately $65 billion of our U.S. food products are imported from other countries every year. We bring in everything from produce and spices to seafood and coffee. Many of the items with low domestic production must be imported. However a variety of products and produce are imported only because they can be produced and transported for a lower cost.
Since the U.S. meat ranches are abundant, we only import about 10% of our red meat from foreign sources. The imported shares of vegetables are about 13%, alcohol such as wine and beer hits 16%, and fruits and nuts have about 32% foreign influence. Topping the list is fish and shellfish. With nearly 80% of our seafood coming from imported sources, the next question would be is it safe?
Health Concerns
As the FDA, USDA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies are all still in the process of protecting the public from food that’s imported into this country. It’s important to examine the health risks of imported products that are currently sitting on the shelves. From 2001 to 2008, foods imported from China increased more than three times in value. In 2008, the U.S. imported $5.2 billion of food from China making it the third largest imported source of food.
The concern stems from China’s weak food and safety enforcement and high level of synthetic chemical use, not to mention the extreme environmental pollution. Problems include repeated offenses of filth, improper labeling, unsafe additives, and drug residue (in seafood).
The FDA refuses about 200 or more shipments of food from China every month due to contamination. In comparison, only 8 Thai shipments and 35 Italian shipments are rejected monthly. Refusals, though, are of less concern than the tainted products that actually do make it through. In 2007, the FDA conducted a large pet food recall where the vegetable proteins imported from China were contaminated with melamine that was killing cats and dogs. Again in 2008, products from China were recalled, this time milk and coffee, due to the presence of melamine, a chemical that can lead to kidney failure when ingested by humans.
What You Can Do
When it comes to red meat, poultry and seafood, check for the country of origin to ensure that you are buying the safest and healthiest U.S. option. Your fruits and vegetables can also be selected in favor of the U.S. harvesting seasons. Locally grown produce also ensures the ripest and freshest options. It’s difficult to bypass less expensive options, but until regulations and standards become more consistent and reliable, spend the extra few cents now to save yourself potential health costs in the future. Think of it as cheap health insurance.
