Oh...you mean "Freedom Fries"?
(running for cover)
> <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>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
Received on 2004-06-16 22:35:18