[getsmart-l] National Farmers Union-Ontario Commentary- Warning sign that our food system is vulnerable

[John O'Gorman]

Warning signs that our food system is vulnerable
A commentary by the National Farmers Union-Ontario

By Grant Robertson

 

Del Monte the Latest to Recall Pet Food 

Melamine Hazard in Dog Snacks, Wet Dog Food 

Pet Food Deaths: FDA Blocks Gluten from China

Pet owners feel 'betrayed' after tainted pet food kills thousands  

Pet Food Recall: Dog, Cat And Now A Possible Human Food Link

Chinese supplier ID'd in Canadian, U.S. pet deaths

 

This is a short list of media headlines from just the last few days related to the deaths and illness of pets seemingly caused by contaminated food.  At this stage of this continually evolving story it appears the contamination may have come from tainted wheat gluten from China.  It appears that there may be some other links to other ingredients sourced from off shore.  

 

For quite some time now the NFU has been sounding the alarm about the lack of food safety regulations in many of the countries Canadian farmers are forced to compete with within our own borders.  As recently as early February this commentary series focused on the issue of the federal government failing to deal with the disparity between the standards by which Canadian farmers create food and much of the so-called cheaper food we import.

 

To be sure there is no evidence at this point that any of these problems have made their way to the human food chain.  Although, disturbingly, some media reports are starting to suggest a link.  And there are different levels of security for pet food than food destined for the dinner table.  

 

However, this incident should serve as a wake up call for government, industry and anyone who thinks eating on a daily basis is important.  More and more the evidence is piling up that demonstrates a conclusive link between health and the types and quality of food we eat.  Yet, we have developed an industrial food system that stresses processor and retailer profit, transportability and cheap raw agricultural products.  

 

Our food system is rapidly devolving into a race to the basement - a race that undermines food sovereignty, environmental, social and rural economic sustainability.  A race that does not value the quality of food, or really even its enjoyment.  We now have a food system that breeds tomatoes for ease of transportation rather than taste and uses a gassing technique to provide you with your expected red colour. 

 

Our food system is clearly vulnerable.  While we have never seen an outbreak of contaminated food on the level of the current pet food issue, each and every one of us has heard numerous and a seemingly growing number of stories of food borne problems.  The questions for each of us are these;  Will you continue to participate in a food system that values your pocketbook more than your health?  Will you, in this election year, challenge government to take these issues seriously?  Will we as a nation allow our environmental, social and health values to be undone by an unwillingness to stand up to food globalization while our family farmers pay the costs?  Will we demand better regulations for pet food and leave ourselves at risk?  Will we continue to ignore the warning signs that our food system is vulnerable?

  

Grant Robertson is a senior official with the National Farmers Union-Ontario and a National Board Member of the NFU. Grant and his family farm near Paisley, Ontario.  The author can be contacted at grant at bmts.com

If you have been forwarded this commentary and would like to be added to the distribution list please send an email to grant at bmts.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. 

 
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