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Cargill Makes the News!| Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 10:56:37 AM | Only after this international corporation is caught with their hands in the cookie jar do they decide to come clean over unethical, if not dangerous, practices.
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Hormel Foods and Cargill Inc. said today they can agree to put information on meat and fish labels that makes it clear to consumers when those products have been treated with carbon monoxide during the packaging process, even as US officials indicated they are open to testing this process to ensure it's safe for consumers.
The use of carbon monoxide packaging was discussed at a hearing today before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, where Chairman Bart Stupak of Michigan said this technique in food packaging is 'highly deceptive' because it keeps meat looking fresh even though it may have spoiled.
He also offered evidence from an internal company email from Hormel indicating that there is some evidence this technique may not be safe.
Daniel Engeljohn of the US Food Safety and Inspection Service said in response to a question from Stupak that his agency is open to looking at this data or any new data that indicates the process is unsafe.
'We clearly will look at the data,' he said. Officials were silent, however, on whether they would temporarily suspend the use of this technique until further study is completed.
Engeljohn also said his office is considering a request from Target Corp. to use a label for carbon monoxide-treated meat saying that this treatment was used to preserve the color of the product, and that consumers should not rely on color alone to judge freshness.
Stupak today added that Tyson Foods, Safeway, Giant Food and Stop & Shop have already agreed not to sell products treated with carbon monoxide.
Stupak and other Democrats today hinted that they would support new regulations that clamp down on the use of this practice, and said there is no evidence that this practice does anything other than make meat look fresher than it may be. For now, however, Stupak said his committee would take up this issue in additional hearings next year, and said labeling foods treated with carbon monoxide would be 'additional progress' for now.
Hormel Chairman, President and CEO Jeffrey Ettinger agreed today that the technique helps meat maintain its coloring, but said Hormel's products already include 'sell by' dates on all meat that tells consumers when the meat should be used.
He also said his company would put this packaging information on labels if necessary.
'Hormel will comply with any labeling of this product that is determined to be necessary and fair through the legislative or regulatory process,' Ettinger said. Specifically, he said Hormel has offered to add language saying, 'Color is not an accurate indicator of freshness. Refer to use or freeze-by date.'
Cargill CEO Gregory Page also said today it could agree to similar language.
I copied this article from Forbes.com.
At what point does ethical business practice take second place to the almighty buck? Seems like Cargill has determined that fine point and opted to go with profit. Of course, they've got so much special interest power with our Congress that they can get away with making a half hearted attempt to warn consumers to be cautious when buying any of their products. | |
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