Where Does Food Come From?

Five years ago, Congress approved a law that would require country-of-origin labeling for food. But under intense lobbying pressure, the law's implementation was put off until September 2008. Now, as tainted pet food and toothpaste ingredients, fish and other foods and drugs from China have proved to be tainted, Congress is under pressure to hurry up already. Many have long called for such labels. Labeling food origins could be complicated. Thousands of food facilities in more than 170 countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, supply food to the U.S. market. The Food and Drug Administration has acknowledged that it isn't up to the task of policing that increasingly complex international system. Country-of-origin labeling would give consumers the ability to police their own food purchases to a greater degree, according to a story in the June 10 Chicago Tribune. For daily recipes using natural, unprocessed, organic and other back-to-basics and flavorful alternatives, check out New Green Cuisine.