Spring Break
The Daily OrangeNational law forces food companies to label products with country of origin
By Silvia Milanova
Posted: 10/7/08, 12:49 AM EST Section: News
Quentin Sica, a junior sociology major, said he rarely looks at food labels.
"I always buy the Price-Club, cheap stuff," Sica said. "The price is a lot more important than the label when you're in college."
Others, such as sophomore marketing major Arunima Kochhar, look for different things when buying produce. Kochhar goes grocery shopping every week or two and likes to buy fresh fruit, meat and vegetables.
"Personally, I'd like to know where the food I'm buying comes from," Kochhar said. "If it's from a country that recently had a problem, like China, then I would be more careful about buying products from that country. It would be good to know."
But some foods, such as meat and fish sold in butcher shops and markets, are exempt from labeling. So are foods served in restaurants, bakeries and cafeterias, processed foods, and those mixed or cooked with other foods.
The law first took affect in 2002, but was criticized by retailers and food companies because they thought that it'd be too costly to implement. It also only covered fish and shellfish products. With the new scare of food-borne illnesses abroad, some consumers are planning on paying more attention.
"I think it's a good idea to have labels, especially if you have personal preferences," said Chrissy Ames, junior anthropology and history major. "You don't want to contract some illness from some poorly produced vegetable. I haven't seen the labels yet, but I'll keep my eyes open for them. It can't hurt to have them."
smilanov@syr.edu
"I always buy the Price-Club, cheap stuff," Sica said. "The price is a lot more important than the label when you're in college."
Others, such as sophomore marketing major Arunima Kochhar, look for different things when buying produce. Kochhar goes grocery shopping every week or two and likes to buy fresh fruit, meat and vegetables.
"Personally, I'd like to know where the food I'm buying comes from," Kochhar said. "If it's from a country that recently had a problem, like China, then I would be more careful about buying products from that country. It would be good to know."
But some foods, such as meat and fish sold in butcher shops and markets, are exempt from labeling. So are foods served in restaurants, bakeries and cafeterias, processed foods, and those mixed or cooked with other foods.
The law first took affect in 2002, but was criticized by retailers and food companies because they thought that it'd be too costly to implement. It also only covered fish and shellfish products. With the new scare of food-borne illnesses abroad, some consumers are planning on paying more attention.
"I think it's a good idea to have labels, especially if you have personal preferences," said Chrissy Ames, junior anthropology and history major. "You don't want to contract some illness from some poorly produced vegetable. I haven't seen the labels yet, but I'll keep my eyes open for them. It can't hurt to have them."
smilanov@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Glenda Neff
posted 10/17/08 @ 11:43 AM EST
A clarification is needed especially about bananas - we don't grow any locally! So buying bananas from Syracuse Banana, a local distributor, doesn't tell you where the bananas were grown. (Continued…)
Post a Comment