Now that the tainted pet food scandal has made us more aware that many additives come from overseas, and China in particular -- and that some unscrupulous or, at the very least, unprofessional Chinese manufacturers mix cheaper and poisonous adulterants into some food or pharmaceutical products -- most of us would like to see some action. What can be done?
First, Chinese and any other foreign manufacturers should fall under both their home country's and the U.S. government's regulations and controls. This would take a concerted education effort in China, which has the challenge of teaching small, uneducated and very independent entrepreneurs the market value of meeting American standards.
Second, we need to increase U.S. inspection of imported foods and additives. This means increased personnel and budgets and a serious commitment from the government to a tight, professional program. The Food and Drug Administration should classify additive adulteration the same way the Agriculture Department classifies meat contamination: totally unacceptable. Congress would have to reverse the trend of underfunding the FDA.
Finally, as consumers, we can swallow hard and decide to pay just a little more for well-inspected processed food -- or eat more local fruits, vegetables and whole grains and buy minimally processed and sustainably farmed foods.
Smart processed-food and pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to find guaranteed safe alternatives. But consumers must be prepared to pay a higher price for safe food -- and to make informed choices about what ingredients go into our food and where they come from.
If you want to have your snack cake and eat it too, you have to remember: You are what you eat.
