Kitchen

[DiAnne]

Isn't there supposed to be a place of origin on food? I thought that was a law. I was looking at a bag of popcorn I had picked up a Trader Joe's and all it said was Dist and Sold exclusively by: Trader Joe's, Monrovia, CA 91016. How do I know where it was made?

[ValuSkr]

It may be safe to assume the product was made / grown in the U.S. if no country of origin is shown. You'd have to ask TJ's to be sure. One online source reports this as Aldi's policy, and Aldi's is TJ's sister company. Having said that, TJ's is notoriously secretive about its sourcing practices. They said that protects its competitive edge and hence its low pricing. However, it also prevents consumers from learning anything about the companies and farms that produce TJ's goods. You can learn more about this online; a good deal has been written.

[Snowpuppy]

An item need not be labeled with country of origin if the product is US made.

Labeling requirements are for imported items. Including food.

[DiAnne]

Thanks both of you. I was just curious.

[HonnyBrown]

All, thanks for the information! I thought fresh items like produce and fish had to be labeled.

[Snowpuppy]

On 10/29/2014 HonnyBrown said:

All, thanks for the information! I thought fresh items like produce and fish had to be labeled.

No, only if they are imported from another country.

[RespectLife]

Really good question, DiAnne. I went to an expert....my sister! LOL She works for a Custom Brokerage (they handle ALL the paperwork on everything coming into the US via land/sea/air and through any border) She is head of the companies FDA Compliance Unit. She said:

"Country of origin is required to be on the cartons that the products are shipped in for Customs purposes…but for FDA purposes, the labeling does not have to include the originating country of origin… only who distributes it.

From the FDA’s website…this is all that has to be on the label.

What name and address must be listed on the label?

Answer: Food labels must list:

1. Name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. Unless the name given is the actual manufacturer, it must be accompanied by a qualifying phrase which states the firm's relation to the product (e.g., "manufactured for "or "distributed by");
2. Street address if the firm name and address are not listed in a current city directory or telephone book;
3. City or town;
4. State (or country, if outside the United States); and
5. ZIP code (or mailing code used in countries other than the United States).
   
   

So basically…eat at your own risk! " **(Her warning, not mine!)**

That's what she said! Jeepers...not very comforting, is it! She always warns me about reading the labels and not purchasing cheap stuff (such as dollar store items, cheap spices etc) that you can't distinguish the origin.

Kinda scares me about Trader Joe's now...I really don't care who distributes it! I care who grew it/packed it etc!

[RespectLife]

On 10/28/2014 ValuSkr said:

It may be safe to assume the product was made / grown in the U.S. if no country of origin is shown. You'd have to ask TJ's to be sure. One online source reports this as Aldi's policy, and Aldi's is TJ's sister company. Having said that, TJ's is notoriously secretive about its sourcing practices. They said that protects its competitive edge and hence its low pricing. However, it also prevents consumers from learning anything about the companies and farms that produce TJ's goods. You can learn more about this online; a good deal has been written.

Sorry, but NO...you can not assume the product was made/grown in the U.S. if no country of origin is shown.

The label does NOT have to state origin...only the giant shipping cartons which we will never see.

[RespectLife]

On 10/28/2014 Snowpuppy said:

An item need not be labeled with country of origin if the product is US made.

Labeling requirements are for imported items. Including food.

I'm sorry...but again I would disagree...see my above post. The label on the ANY product, not just Imported items, is NOT required by the FDA to list the orgin. It doesn't matter where the product comes from...US or otherwise.

[RespectLife]

Sis also says....

"well if it is any consolation, the importer such as trader joes is legally liable for the safety of the food products they import under the Food Safety Modernization Act and they must possess safety records for all the manufacturers of the products they import from."

Naw...not really any consolation! LOL

Maybe for my next of kin....