Largest food recall in North American history

[honkman]

We hardly use/eat ever any produced food but I hope that such a massive food recall might wake up perhaps a few people to change their way if and how they consume processed food.

http://blog.friendseat.com/largest-fo...

[ChefJune]

I haven't bought any item containing HVP in decades. And yes, anything with that in it is basically junk food.

[thomas64]

Got news for you people: Unless you grind your own flour, grow your own sugar, and breed/slaughter your own livestock, you are eating a lot of processed foods, no matter how many meals you make from "scratch." Anything you don't make yourself - completely - is processed in some way.

[honkman]

We are talking about highly processed food. I think the "definition" from Pollan that food you buy in the supermarket shouldn't have more than five ingredients listed before it is highly processed food is a very good guideline.

[Sam Fujisaka]

You're right. Some of my foods are "processed". My flour, oats, and rice are milled. My vinegar is distilled, My masa harina treated with cal. My sugar is extracted and refined. My wine, shoyu, black beans, and fish sauce are fermented. My cooking oils are pressed, some are further refined. My cheeses contain age old ingredients.

I make my own yogurt, sauces, juices, compotes/jams, stocks, soups, desserts, dressings, dips, pasta, condiments, and the like.

To repeat my implicit point above, I don't really buy (junk) foods that could or would be recalled - ironically but hypothetically other than the large amount of fruits and vegetables I buy. Fortunately, however and for example, salmonella contaminated vegetables are much much less likely here in Colombia compared to the US due to the diferences in commercial agriculture.

[John E.]

My first boss from my first 'real' job died from cancer that he swore he got from Agent Orange. I don't remember what kind of cancer it was but he described walking through jungles in Vietnam that was wet with the stuff. Sometimes the overspray fell right on them.

As far as the hydrolyzed vegetable protein recall, I have no memory of this happening. I was new to Chowhound at that time so if the mainstream media had the story, I either missed it or do not recall it now.

[freia]

Refined processed snack foods and ready to eat foods are the issue, not items that appear in your grocery store in general.
Yes, the tomatoes in my grocery store were not grown by me so therefore in a technical sense were "processed' as in picked, washed and shipped. Same with the onion, limes, and cilantro that I use to make fresh salsa. But this is different from buying a prepared, jarred salsa made from the same tomatoes.
I generally don't eat highly processed foods as listed in the recall. No ready to eat meals, snack foods, salad dressing and so on. I will make them at home and don't consider my home versions to be "processed" in the way the article defines "processed".
If you look at the list (link at the bottom of the article) it seems to be mostly dips, chips, soup mixes, gravy mixes and ready to eat meals.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Its a junk food recall, not a food recall.

[Midlife]

Sam,

You callin' my my TJ's Creamy Ranch Dressing junk food?????

[Sam Fujisaka]

Come to my house and I'll make you some creamy ranch dressing and then ask me.

[honkman]

These highly processed "foods" like salad dressings are also junk food.

[Midlife]

I'm crushed! :o[

[Midlife]

About a week ago I noticed that Trader Joe's was out of their Creamy Ranch Dressing, then found a notice at checkout saying there was a recall on certain lots. It's on the list.

[elfcook]

I cook many, many things from scratch, but I also use some prepared items. My kids love the Marzetti ranch dip, so I get it occasionally - gladly it is not on the list, as we had some a couple of weeks ago (although I'd know by now if it was tainted!).

[Beckyleach]

Another advantage to cooking nearly everything from scratch: not one item on that recall list has entered our house in months and months. Whew!