Safe/unsafe food?

[frustratedearthmother]

Granted - the system is not perfect. I work with kids who are the poorest of the poor. We have a lot of single parent families...we have one mother in our program who works 3 part-time jobs- all minimum wage and still needs food stamps. There are days when she works around the clock for over 24 hours. She's proud that she has 3 jobs and it would break her heart if she couldn't put a bag of chips in her kids lunch.

We have another mother who is going to school in her late 30's...in fact we just hired her as our student worker. Minimum wage and a maximum of 19 hours a week and thankfully has another job (also minimum wage). She married young, has 4 kids (set of twins ) and her husband was killed riding his bicycle to his minimum wage job. Hit and run...no insurance, no family here to help them. One of the saddest things I've ever seen. Her daughter who is in our program got a pair of socks for Christmas.

Even if these folks KNOW healthy food is better for them - healthy foods are expensive. Can they grow a tomato plant? Maybe, but can they afford to buy the pot and the dirt and the plant? A large majority of the families I work with live in govt assisted housing...no place for a garden. They would be better off buying the tomato because it's a sure thing. Growing a plant is a gamble for all of us and they can't afford to throw that money down the drain if the plant doesn't grow.

There are definitely folks who would be better off not buying the potato chips, the candy and the soda! Heck, I shouldn't be either but I love my diet root beer, lol. We buy candy for DH's low blood sugar episodes. There are times when a package of Smarties saved him from a low blood sugar crash.

I work very closely with some of these people who are on assistance. I see their struggle every single day. I see the teenage girl who was thrilled to get a pair of socks for Christmas.

We are all entitled to our own beliefs about this. And there surely are folks who "work" the system. But, there is another side of the story and I see it every day.

Stepping down from this soapbox and going to check on my goats!

 

[Rammy]

Kind of makes you glad you grow your own food, dont it?

 

[NH Homesteader]

I was thinking the same thing yesterday!

 

[Rammy]

Thats the whole reason I started a garden and want to raise my own meat. You cant trust what you buy anymore.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Not to be snarky or political, but at the same time they aren't bothering competent raw milk producers either. I doubt commercial producers are now like "cool, we don't have to clean the equipment any more".

 

[sumi]

Not to be snarky or political, but at the same time they aren't bothering competent raw milk producers either. I doubt commercial producers are now like "cool, we don't have to clean the equipment any more".

True, but looking at the number of recalls not just in the USA, but here in Ireland as well, there are always risks and it's worrying that checks may not be as thorough as usual, due to the situation in the USA now. A few weeks ago I saw notices put up in our local supermarket warning customers about a recall on a certain chocolate product that possibly got contaminated by peanuts. These things happen.

I read another article about airport security staff taking "sick" days to avoid going in to work due to not being paid and the resulting staff shortages and chaos. It's possible that the food safety department is dealing with the same problem and staff shortages? Whatever the situation is, it's worrying and I really hope a solution can be agreed upon SOON.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I feel sorry for the families that are getting eviction notices because they can't pay their rent without getting a paycheck.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Yep.. this qualifies as a "SHTF" situation, even if it turns out to be fairly short term

True, that. A SHTF caused by our own government. Yet an other case of Uncle Sam looking out for the interests of the people he is elected to serve. So many folks live from one pay check to the next.

 

[sumi]

Thanks Sumi. I live in a little bubble, and don't even listen to local or national news, do not take the news paper. I was vaguely aware of rumor of government shut down, but totally unaware of when or how extensive. Hubby and I were going to buy bulk hamburg at a national chain store today. Reading that article convinced me that NOW would be a good time to look at all the meats I have stored in the freezer and use those up first.

You're welcome. I'm aware of this as I have a few friends in the States and some of them share articles (like this one) to their FB newsfeed, or tell me about stuff happening across the pond when we chat. Apart from that and a scroll through my Google newsfeed on my phone once a day I'm pretty much in a bubble too. What I do know about this shutdown is that it is fairly extensive and a lot of people are being affected

 

[sumi]

Yep.. this qualifies as a "SHTF" situation, even if it turns out to be fairly short term

That is so true @Britesea This is one of those situations where it's good to have a stockpile of food, be SS to some extend. Not just because of the concerns voiced in the article, but for those families having to go without the monthly paychecks. And I heard something about food stamps not being issued now as well.