Grab and Keel

As a person who has been in construction more than a few years, I will tell you this: When I do a job as an inspector, there are specific tasks that must be performed.

One of these tasks includes product inspection, as the materials arrive on the site.

On a roofing job, for example, I want to see un-tampered labels on every product. Many of the larger products must be marked on each piece. The labels must include: the brand name, a description of the product, point of manufacture, date of manufacture, storage requirements, and some minimum information on use. 

For example, bitumen, what most people call roofing tar, has several different formulations that must be heated at different temperature ranges. The temperature range dictates application to differently sloped roofs. The bitumen might be a good product, but wrong for the job, and must be checked.

If products arrive on the job site unlabeled, damaged, or are wrong for job, I, the inspector, mark them.  I tell the contractor they are not acceptable. They then must be removed from the jobsite.

Why then, as a consumer of food products, am I not entitled to expect the same from food inspectors? Why do FDA food inspectors not have the same task list at their disposal?

Senator Clinton, along with Russ Feingold, has introduced a simple bill that would refuse entry to products not marked as to point of origin. In addition to helping ourselves, if we require it, other countries would benefit.

The FDA is asking to allow inspectors to mark unacceptable products and reduce possible product entry caused by port shopping. Marking takes a little time, but could reduce inspection time at the next port.

The Boxer – Kennedy release of the GAO Report shows that we have a long way to go domestically.

So, in addition to reading the latest news, and making the best food choices we can, what else can we do? We can write our representative! 

Let’s help improve our food! Go HERE to start.

I Own My Vote, PUMA, The Denver Group, Just Say No Deal