Food Industry say:"Can't Guarantee Food Safety Anymore"

NorthernSanctuary · 05-15-2009, 03:45 PM

"Can't Guarantee Food Safety Anymore" Says Processed Food Industry
Quote

The U.S. food industry has admitted that it has lost control over the quality and safety of the supply chain ingredients it uses in making processed foods. Since they don't want to become responsible for testing individual ingredients for contaminants, the industry is now seeking ways to make you, the consumer, responsible for foodborne illnesses so they can avoid liability. This paradigm shift is, of course, taking place quietly.

Food Companies Are Placing the Onus for Safety on Consumers
MICHAEL MOSS
New York Times

"Increasingly, the corporations that supply Americans with processed foods are unable to guarantee the safety of their ingredients. In this case, ConAgra could not pinpoint which of the more than 25 ingredients in its pies was carrying salmonella. Other companies do not even know who is supplying their ingredients, let alone if those suppliers are screening the items for microbes and other potential dangers, interviews and documents show."

Yet the supply chain for ingredients in processed foods — from flavorings to flour to fruits and vegetables — is becoming more complex and global as the drive to keep food costs down intensifies. As a result, almost every element, not just red meat and poultry, is now a potential carrier of pathogens, government and industry officials concede.

In addition to ConAgra, other food giants like Nestlé and the Blackstone Group, a New York firm that acquired the Swanson and Hungry-Man brands two years ago, concede that they cannot ensure the safety of items — from frozen vegetables to pizzas — and that they are shifting the burden to the consumer. General Mills, which recalled about five million frozen pizzas in 2007 after an E. coli outbreak, now advises consumers to avoid microwaves and cook only with conventional ovens. ConAgra has also added food safety instructions to its other frozen meals, including the Healthy Choice brand..."

...And the ingredient chain for frozen and other processed foods is poised to get more convoluted, industry insiders say. While the global market for ingredients is projected to reach $34 billion next year, the pressure to keep food prices down in a recession is forcing food companies to look for ways to cut costs.

Ensuring the safety of ingredients has been further complicated as food companies subcontract processing work to save money: smaller companies prepare flavor mixes and dough that a big manufacturer then assembles...

(more at [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/bu...UlfTNemOp4M+A] )

05-15-2009, 03:45 PM	#1
NorthernSanctuary Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 698	Food Industry say:"Can't Guarantee Food Safety Anymore" "Can't Guarantee Food Safety Anymore" Says Processed Food Industry Quote The U.S. food industry has admitted that it has lost control over the quality and safety of the supply chain ingredients it uses in making processed foods. Since they don't want to become responsible for testing individual ingredients for contaminants, the industry is now seeking ways to make you, the consumer, responsible for foodborne illnesses so they can avoid liability. This paradigm shift is, of course, taking place quietly. Food Companies Are Placing the Onus for Safety on Consumers MICHAEL MOSS New York Times "Increasingly, the corporations that supply Americans with processed foods are unable to guarantee the safety of their ingredients. In this case, ConAgra could not pinpoint which of the more than 25 ingredients in its pies was carrying salmonella. Other companies do not even know who is supplying their ingredients, let alone if those suppliers are screening the items for microbes and other potential dangers, interviews and documents show." Yet the supply chain for ingredients in processed foods — from flavorings to flour to fruits and vegetables — is becoming more complex and global as the drive to keep food costs down intensifies. As a result, almost every element, not just red meat and poultry, is now a potential carrier of pathogens, government and industry officials concede. In addition to ConAgra, other food giants like Nestlé and the Blackstone Group, a New York firm that acquired the Swanson and Hungry-Man brands two years ago, concede that they cannot ensure the safety of items — from frozen vegetables to pizzas — and that they are shifting the burden to the consumer. General Mills, which recalled about five million frozen pizzas in 2007 after an E. coli outbreak, now advises consumers to avoid microwaves and cook only with conventional ovens. ConAgra has also added food safety instructions to its other frozen meals, including the Healthy Choice brand..." ...And the ingredient chain for frozen and other processed foods is poised to get more convoluted, industry insiders say. While the global market for ingredients is projected to reach $34 billion next year, the pressure to keep food prices down in a recession is forcing food companies to look for ways to cut costs. Ensuring the safety of ingredients has been further complicated as food companies subcontract processing work to save money: smaller companies prepare flavor mixes and dough that a big manufacturer then assembles... (more at [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/bu...UlfTNemOp4M+A] )