<rant on>
Have you heard the USDA caved in to the French Fry lobby and now
classifies batter-coated, frozen fries as "fresh vegetables?" Gads.
There's a disclaimer: it's not "fresh" nutritionally, just as a
commodity definition.
I looked up the USDA definition of "fresh". Here it is, from the PACA
website (
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fvpaca/7cfr-prt.htm#Sec. 46.1):
"Section 4.6.2(u) Fresh fruits and fresh vegetables include all
produce in fresh form generally considered as perishable fruits and
vegetables, whether or not packed in ice or held in common or cold
storage, but does not include those perishable fruits and vegetables
which have been manufactured into articles of food of a different kind
or character."
(Ok, can anyone tell me if fried potatoes have a different kind of
"character" than fresh? *ahem* To continue...)
"The effects of the following operations shall not be considered as
changing a commodity into a food of a different kind or character:
Water, steam, or oil blanching, chopping, color adding, curing,
cutting, dicing, drying for the removal of surface moisture;
fumigating, gassing, heating for insect control, ripening and
coloring; removal of seeds, pits, stems, calyx, husk, pods, rind,
skin, peel, et cetera; polishing, precooling, refrigerating,
shredding, slicing, trimming, washing with or without chemicals;
waxing, adding of sugar or other sweetening agents; adding ascorbic
acid or other agents used to retard oxidation; mixing of several kinds
of sliced, chopped, or diced fruits or vegetables for packaging in any
type of containers; or comparable methods of preparation."
Me again. Does it say anything about being fried? "Oil blanching" is
not fried.
So how will this affect us? It will hit wholesalers and retailers.
The case started with a small company who was filing for Chapter 11.
The law requires anyone who sells fresh fruits and vegetables to be
paid in full. Something to do with keeping small farmers in business.
(Others would get partial payment if a company goes bankrupt and
can't afford to pay.) Apparently the Fry lobby has been pushing this
for years and finally the USDA caved in. Now they get their money.
Poor little Fry lobby farmers. Never get any respect. Well, NOW they
do.
AAARRRGHHH!!!!
</rant off>
Received on 2004-06-16 22:32:10