"<RJ>" wrote:
>
> I'm getting leery about most food products.
>
> On a gift box of mixed nuts/snacks, the label reads;
>
> "Distributed by CVS"
>
> Where they were grown/produced/packed.... who knows ??

You should only be so inquisitive about that preground mystery meat
you swallow.

The words "mixed" and "Distributed by" are the key... if you truly
wanted to know the origin of each individual ingredient then inquire
of CVS, I'm sure they will be pleased to avail you of that information
to the best of their ability. Obviously any imported nuts entering in
bulk passed through US Customs. I'm sure CVS does not directly import
those nuts, they purchase from a distributor, very likely from a
wholesaler, who purchased from an importer... often the importer is
identified on such packages but CVS should be happy to disclose this
information if you inquire. US Customs in conjunction with the USDA
inspects imported food products in quarantine areas where it enters by
ship/plane/rail/truck, so country of origin is registered. When you
see the Chiquita sticker on bananas you sort of need to trust that
Chiquita is a reliable distributor even though US Customs and USDA did
not inspect each and every individual banana. If you don't trust that
CVS will stand behind their products then you shouldn't shop there, if
you don't trust their nuts I hope you are not having your
prescriptions filled by CVS.

On how many prepared food products do you see country of origin listed
for each individual ingredient in the list of ingredients... when you
buy a box of assorted/mixed Hershey chocolates there is no country of
origin indicated for each ingredient and I bet no one gives it a
moment's thought, yet most of those ingredients that go into
chocolates are imported including the chocolate itself (you have no
idea where those chocolate beans were grown... I've never known of any
chocolate lover refusing to scoff down a Hershey bar because it didn't
list county of origin for the cacoa beans, for all they know those
beans are grown in Pennsylvania). When bulk items are repackaged
it's very rare for country of origin to be listed... that your gift
box indicates "CVS" it is tacitly implied that the country of origin
for the "mixed" gift box as a whole is the US (if there's a problem
then complain to CVS). Were it packaged in say China then US Customs
would require country of export on the label; "Made in China". Were
each item in a gift box individually packaged (ie. jars of jams) then
the country of origin would be on each jar... but not on the gift box
as a whole (obviously apple and papaya are from different countries
yet the county of origin of the fruit is not listed on jam jars), it
would then indicate the company distributing the gift box. Imported
bulk items and packaged items have already been passed through US
Customs so country of origin is registered... when repackaged only the
distributor is required... same as if you purchased a tin of Danish
cookies, the country of origin for the individual ingredients is not
listed, only the distributor (US ustoms is actually more interested in
that metal tin, that tin is valued higher than the cookies because the
tarrif on imported printed steel containers is high - perhaps those
cookies are not imported and only the tin is, read the labeling
carefully). When you purchase a loaf of seeded rye from the
neighborhood bakery have you ever seen a label indicating country of
origin for the seeds, I bet not, I bet you never even thought about
it, so why are you so paranoid over your CVS nuts??? If you purchased
a tin of Planter's mixed nuts (or store brand) from the stupidmarket I
bet you don't give a rat's b-hind that country of origin is not listed
for each nut contained therein... most normal brained individuals
realize that macadamias and cashews don't come from Iowa.

SHELDON