Buyers Beware – That Foodie Bargain May Be Too Good
We’ve heard about counterfeit money, watches, handbags, designer clothes, and other luxury items. And many of us are happy when we can knowingly purchase a “knock off” of a designer item for less, when we really don’t care about paying top dollar for the real thing.
But the latest concern in counterfeits gives us reason for genuine concern. Counterfeits in food items not only affect quality, but also our safety. The fraudulent replacement of red snapper with tilapia may spoil a good meal; French cognac diluted with U.S. brandy won’t sip as well; but we’ve seen the dangers in Chinese milk that has been boosted with melamine for the sake of simulating a higher protein content. Even if we’re not talking about an outright toxic product, consider the risks in a seemingly inexpensive can of extra virgin olive oil, that’s been diluted with peanut oil to bring down the expense. Sure, to most of us it will cheapen our salad, but for a person with peanut allergies it can be deadly.
According to the report on this crime in Newsweek, the FDA and other groups are attempting to uncover these fraudulent foods, and states are instituting stricter legislation to combat these crimes. But the public needs to be as vigilantly suspicious of a good food deal found in a store as we’ve been about a handbag sold on the street corner.
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2 Responses to “Buyers Beware – That Foodie Bargain May Be Too Good”
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This certainly makes one woman’s search for something good to eat more difficult.
Well, it turns it into more of a detective job with a bit of danger. Exciting, no?