Sassafras
03-23-2009, 08:20 PM
This is an email I received from a girl friend.
"Where's the Beef From?"
Mar 21, 2009
Once in a while something comes along that really gets my attention and makes me gear up and get going. Recently, at my local Kroger Store, I had such an experience. I wrote to Kroger and they immediately replied. I appreciate that. In reading through the information that they shared, I commented to them and wanted to share the information with you. I believe this is a serious matter.
In Hosea 4:6 the Lord said, "My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
The Lord was talking to the priests and leaders telling them that because "they" didn't teach the people, they perished; and in the New Testament, we are commanded, above all else, to love one another. As a Christian, an American and a leader here on Firestorm, I am compelled to shout out a warning when something comes forth that I believe is dangerous to God's people, not only for their safety, but also for my stand with the Lord.
Our world is changing and many are slumbering as decisions are being made behind closed doors regarding our future and our way of life here in the United States of America. Change is not always good. Head's up Church.
There are three notes following this introduction. My first contact with Kroger, their reply and my second reply to them.
Blessings, bon
******************************************
CUSTOMER COMMENTS:
I am a regular Kroger Shopper.
I recently saw stickers on packages of meat saying
United States/Canada/Mexico. I asked the gentleman stocking meat what that meant and where did the meat come from. He said it comes from one or the other. I did not purchase any meat that day.
This is unacceptable to me, especially during a time when we need to be buying USA products to help our economy. I am not comfortable with the cultures of Mexico and Canada and their standards.
I do not want to buy meat from Mexico or Canada, I want American Beef. I am not interested in the North American Union either, unless Americans vote to drop our borders.
Are we going to have a choice in this matter or will you hide the origin of your meat? I also do not buy catfish from Chili when we have Tennessee/USA Catfish. How fresh can that be anyway? Fresh Frozen does not mean fresh.
Thought you might like to know.
Bon
************************************************** ********************
Dear Bon:
I appreciate your contact you made to this office regarding the Country Of Origin meat labeling.
It may help to know that a new law was passed September 30, 2008 requiring country of origin labeling information to appear on certain foods. The law applies only to the following foods: beef, pork, lamb, chicken, goat meat, seafood, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and ginseng. The law does not apply to processed foods or foods that are sold by restaurants, food service establishments, butcher shops, seafood stores, or very small grocery stores. Processed foods include products that are cooked, smoked, cured roasted or combined with other foods.
All foods sold in the United States are required to meet United States food safety standards and regulations no matter where they are produced. The three countries have to be listed on the label because we do not know where the herd is from. However, I can tell you that our meat does not come from China. If you would like more information on the country of origin labeling requirements please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website @ www.ams,usda.gov/cool/.
Please be assured that other grocery stores have also included this new labeling on the above products. I hope this information is helpful and that you will continue to shop our Ralphs or Food4Less Kroger affiliated stores. Thank you again for contacting us
Sincerely,
Christie
Consumer Affairs
Reference: 6464923
************************************************** ***************************
***A footnote here. I believe that King Soopers is also one of the Kroger chain stores. Checking on this.
************************************************** ***************************
RE: Kroger Comment 6464923
Dear Christie:
Thank you for your timely response to my letter inquiring about the origin of the beef you sell at your Kroger chain stores and all your associated Food Store
affiliates as well.
I am disappointed that even though the sticker on the meat in your stores will say USDA, that will not mean the beef is "from" the United States. It might be from Canada, Mexico or ??????
I am wondering, how long this has been happening, as your letter states as of September 30, 2008, a law was passed requiring country of origin labeling information to appear on "CERTAIN" foods. "Certain Foods?" Have we been getting meat from other countries all along thinking it was from the United States? For how long?
I will be sharing your note and my concerns with friends, family, government representatives, as well as my on ground and online ministry affiliations. Thank you for your information regarding The Department of Agriculture Website:
www.ams.usda.gov/cool. I will be seeking information from them as well.
I must admit, I am shocked to think buying beef from "China," was and/or is an option for your store chains. I am grateful you will not be buying meat from China, but at the same time, now I am wondering who else you "do" buy meat from besides Mexico and Canada.
How sad, that the price of raising beef in the US has evidently gotten so expensive, it is cheaper to ship in beef from an "unknown" herd and "unknown" country than to be able to raise our own. This must be about money, why else would we ship in Beef when we have cattle ranches of our own here in the US? Then again, I have heard that Japan bought cattle ranches in Montana and exclusively ships "our" beef to Japan. Maybe we don't have enough of our own beef anymore to feed "our" country.
It is interesting to me that Japan can put a "US Beef" sticker on their meat, while here in the US, we are now guessing where our beef comes from. Instead of saying, "Where's the beef?" We are now going to have to say, "Where's the beef from?"
Maybe no one else cares, but I do!
I am feeling quite helpless in this matter and yet, I do have options.The bottom line for me and my family, is that we begin to change our shopping habits and purchase as much of our food necessities as possible from our local farmers and ranchers. I may also check out some canning recipes and consider having a small garden of my own. I understand that people have been purchasing seeds to plant gardens all over the US in record numbers.
I am also going to make an extreme effort to read labels of origin from all items I purchase in the future, not looking for a stamp that says USDA approved, but "Made in the USA." In this way I will be helping my neighbors and also
have peace of mind in knowing what herd/country my beef comes from as well as my chicken/lamb/fish/pork/vegetables/nuts/fruits and I guess, "everything" else I eat, wear, use and drive.
Over this past year we have had a lot of problems with items being sent in from out of our country having deadly chemicals. It is hard to believe toys and pet food were poisonous. Even here in the US, we experienced tainted food supplies including, peanut butter and baby bottles to name a few and people are wondering about the rapid growth hormone being used and how it may be affecting the younger generation and diet drinks and bottled water. The list goes on and on.
Did these items had the USDA approved sticker on them?
The rise of Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis and other serious health issues have increased all over the US. Our people are sick. I wonder if this is because of our food chain? Heaven forbid that our Government officials would make decisions out of ignorance, negligence or greed in enforcing safety regulations regarding our food system.
There is also the thought that we could be so naive and/or prideful that we would not be aware that if someone wanted to take over the United States, they would not destroy the land, water or resources. They would just want us gone.
"Food" for thought!
You supply food for the people of this "great" nation, may God give you wisdom and courage to make "sure" it is not tainted.
USDA "Choice" I want to choose where my beef comes from!
Sincerely,
Bon
Concerned American
"Where's the Beef From?"
Mar 21, 2009
Once in a while something comes along that really gets my attention and makes me gear up and get going. Recently, at my local Kroger Store, I had such an experience. I wrote to Kroger and they immediately replied. I appreciate that. In reading through the information that they shared, I commented to them and wanted to share the information with you. I believe this is a serious matter.
In Hosea 4:6 the Lord said, "My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
The Lord was talking to the priests and leaders telling them that because "they" didn't teach the people, they perished; and in the New Testament, we are commanded, above all else, to love one another. As a Christian, an American and a leader here on Firestorm, I am compelled to shout out a warning when something comes forth that I believe is dangerous to God's people, not only for their safety, but also for my stand with the Lord.
Our world is changing and many are slumbering as decisions are being made behind closed doors regarding our future and our way of life here in the United States of America. Change is not always good. Head's up Church.
There are three notes following this introduction. My first contact with Kroger, their reply and my second reply to them.
Blessings, bon
******************************************
CUSTOMER COMMENTS:
I am a regular Kroger Shopper.
I recently saw stickers on packages of meat saying
United States/Canada/Mexico. I asked the gentleman stocking meat what that meant and where did the meat come from. He said it comes from one or the other. I did not purchase any meat that day.
This is unacceptable to me, especially during a time when we need to be buying USA products to help our economy. I am not comfortable with the cultures of Mexico and Canada and their standards.
I do not want to buy meat from Mexico or Canada, I want American Beef. I am not interested in the North American Union either, unless Americans vote to drop our borders.
Are we going to have a choice in this matter or will you hide the origin of your meat? I also do not buy catfish from Chili when we have Tennessee/USA Catfish. How fresh can that be anyway? Fresh Frozen does not mean fresh.
Thought you might like to know.
Bon
************************************************** ********************
Dear Bon:
I appreciate your contact you made to this office regarding the Country Of Origin meat labeling.
It may help to know that a new law was passed September 30, 2008 requiring country of origin labeling information to appear on certain foods. The law applies only to the following foods: beef, pork, lamb, chicken, goat meat, seafood, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, pecans, peanuts, macadamia nuts, and ginseng. The law does not apply to processed foods or foods that are sold by restaurants, food service establishments, butcher shops, seafood stores, or very small grocery stores. Processed foods include products that are cooked, smoked, cured roasted or combined with other foods.
All foods sold in the United States are required to meet United States food safety standards and regulations no matter where they are produced. The three countries have to be listed on the label because we do not know where the herd is from. However, I can tell you that our meat does not come from China. If you would like more information on the country of origin labeling requirements please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website @ www.ams,usda.gov/cool/.
Please be assured that other grocery stores have also included this new labeling on the above products. I hope this information is helpful and that you will continue to shop our Ralphs or Food4Less Kroger affiliated stores. Thank you again for contacting us
Sincerely,
Christie
Consumer Affairs
Reference: 6464923
************************************************** ***************************
***A footnote here. I believe that King Soopers is also one of the Kroger chain stores. Checking on this.
************************************************** ***************************
RE: Kroger Comment 6464923
Dear Christie:
Thank you for your timely response to my letter inquiring about the origin of the beef you sell at your Kroger chain stores and all your associated Food Store
affiliates as well.
I am disappointed that even though the sticker on the meat in your stores will say USDA, that will not mean the beef is "from" the United States. It might be from Canada, Mexico or ??????
I am wondering, how long this has been happening, as your letter states as of September 30, 2008, a law was passed requiring country of origin labeling information to appear on "CERTAIN" foods. "Certain Foods?" Have we been getting meat from other countries all along thinking it was from the United States? For how long?
I will be sharing your note and my concerns with friends, family, government representatives, as well as my on ground and online ministry affiliations. Thank you for your information regarding The Department of Agriculture Website:
www.ams.usda.gov/cool. I will be seeking information from them as well.
I must admit, I am shocked to think buying beef from "China," was and/or is an option for your store chains. I am grateful you will not be buying meat from China, but at the same time, now I am wondering who else you "do" buy meat from besides Mexico and Canada.
How sad, that the price of raising beef in the US has evidently gotten so expensive, it is cheaper to ship in beef from an "unknown" herd and "unknown" country than to be able to raise our own. This must be about money, why else would we ship in Beef when we have cattle ranches of our own here in the US? Then again, I have heard that Japan bought cattle ranches in Montana and exclusively ships "our" beef to Japan. Maybe we don't have enough of our own beef anymore to feed "our" country.
It is interesting to me that Japan can put a "US Beef" sticker on their meat, while here in the US, we are now guessing where our beef comes from. Instead of saying, "Where's the beef?" We are now going to have to say, "Where's the beef from?"
Maybe no one else cares, but I do!
I am feeling quite helpless in this matter and yet, I do have options.The bottom line for me and my family, is that we begin to change our shopping habits and purchase as much of our food necessities as possible from our local farmers and ranchers. I may also check out some canning recipes and consider having a small garden of my own. I understand that people have been purchasing seeds to plant gardens all over the US in record numbers.
I am also going to make an extreme effort to read labels of origin from all items I purchase in the future, not looking for a stamp that says USDA approved, but "Made in the USA." In this way I will be helping my neighbors and also
have peace of mind in knowing what herd/country my beef comes from as well as my chicken/lamb/fish/pork/vegetables/nuts/fruits and I guess, "everything" else I eat, wear, use and drive.
Over this past year we have had a lot of problems with items being sent in from out of our country having deadly chemicals. It is hard to believe toys and pet food were poisonous. Even here in the US, we experienced tainted food supplies including, peanut butter and baby bottles to name a few and people are wondering about the rapid growth hormone being used and how it may be affecting the younger generation and diet drinks and bottled water. The list goes on and on.
Did these items had the USDA approved sticker on them?
The rise of Cancer, Diabetes, Arthritis and other serious health issues have increased all over the US. Our people are sick. I wonder if this is because of our food chain? Heaven forbid that our Government officials would make decisions out of ignorance, negligence or greed in enforcing safety regulations regarding our food system.
There is also the thought that we could be so naive and/or prideful that we would not be aware that if someone wanted to take over the United States, they would not destroy the land, water or resources. They would just want us gone.
"Food" for thought!
You supply food for the people of this "great" nation, may God give you wisdom and courage to make "sure" it is not tainted.
USDA "Choice" I want to choose where my beef comes from!
Sincerely,
Bon
Concerned American