Trader Joe's bans Chinese products

[OH Nuts!]

Trader Joe's barring some Chinese imports
Article Last Updated: 02/12/2008 04:05:48 PM EST

ROBERT JABLON

LOS ANGELES -- Trader Joe's will stop offering some Chinese-grown food products because of customer concerns about safety, the store chain announced Monday.

Garlic, frozen organic spinach and other "single ingredient" food items from mainland China will be phased out by April 1, although products that include ingredients from both China and other sources will remain.

The company believes the foods are safe but "we will continue to source products from other regions until our customers feel as confident as we do about the quality and safety of Chinese products," Trader Joe spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said in a statement.

Mochizuki did not indicate how long the products would be off the shelves or how many items were affected.

China's exports have come under intense scrutiny in the past year after lead or dangerous chemicals were found in goods ranging from dog food to toys and toothpaste.

But Monrovia-based Trader Joe's, which offers a variety of organic, gourmet and imported foods in nearly 300 stores nationwide, went further than some other chains.

Wegmans, which has about 70 stores in five Eastern states, stopped purchasing Chinese-grown garlic last fall but continued to sell other produce.

"We have not made any sweeping decisions to eliminate any product lines because of them being sourced from China," spokeswoman Jeanne Colleluori said.

"It was our responsibility to work with good suppliers, and there are
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good suppliers in every country -- and there are not-so-good suppliers."

Representatives of Whole Foods Market Inc., Kroger Co. and Safeway Inc. did not immediately return calls seeking information on their product lines.

[Janice]

Where's the story, Rich?

[Stormtracker TF]

Well if they're only banning X's there I think we all should be Ok.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Janice

Where's the story, Rich?

Technical difficulties. Wanted to delete thread and do new story. Will have to paste it back.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by Muppettracker TF

Well if they're only banning X's there I think we all should be Ok.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by rich p

Technical difficulties. Wanted to delete thread and do new story. Will have to paste it back.

Would you like me to delete the thread for you?

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Janice

Would you like me to delete the thread for you?

That was my first choice but since people have posted can it still be done. I had second thoughts about the story since I thought it might be construed as a negative story abt the store - which you know I like. And then I couldn't delete the thread & when I tried to post a new story abt something else the bd wouldn't accept the source. Then it got me worried that maybe the source wasn't allowed .... but couldn't see why....because that story was about people living to be over 100 .......that's what happened ....I think I got in way over my head technologically.

[Mikado]

Well, for what its worth Rich, the Trader Joes story was interesting......even though Ive never even heard of that store

[Janice]

Originally Posted by rich p

That was my first choice but since people have posted can it still be done. I had second thoughts about the story since I thought it might be construed as a negative story abt the store - which you know I like. And then I couldn't delete the thread & when I tried to post a new story abt something else the bd wouldn't accept the source. Then it got me worried that maybe the source wasn't allowed .... but couldn't see why....because that story was about people living to be over 100 .......that's what happened ....I think I got in way over my head technologically.

It worked out fine, Rich. I think Trader Joe's is doing what's in the best interest of their customers. I think I've told you that my brother is a store manager for a Trader Joe's in San Diego. He's been with the company for about seven years now. He went from making $10 bucks an hour to 75+ grand annual salary. Fantastic year-end bonus too. They pay terrific, have great benefits, and are really and truly dedicated to customer satisfaction.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Janice

It worked out fine, Rich. I think Trader Joe's is doing what's in the best interest of their customers. I think I've told you that my brother is a store manager for a Trader Joe's in San Diego. He's been with the company for about seven years now. He went from making $10 bucks an hour to 75+ grand annual salary. Fantastic year-end bonus too. They pay terrific, have great benefits, and are really and truly dedicated to customer satisfaction.

I love the store --their prices are cheaper than Target's...Walmart even....and everyone who works there is nice.....the products are great for the price---one of the best things that's happened to Manhattan. And I hear they're gonna open one in Brooklyn too--I can hardly wait.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Well, for what its worth Rich, the Trader Joes story was interesting......even though Ive never even heard of that store

They're a great store - hope one day they come to Canada.

[Ireneparalegal]

good article Rich. If anything I think it helps Trader Joe's since some people stay away from stores that may sell products that can harm them or come from a country where food products have been tainted in some way.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by rich p

I love the store --their prices are cheaper than Target's...Walmart even....and everyone who works there is nice.....the products are great for the price---one of the best things that's happened to Manhattan. And I hear they're gonna open one in Brooklyn too--I can hardly wait.

I got to thinking about when this happened, when my brother worked at a Trader Joes here in Massachusetts.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...trader+joe%27s

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Janice

I got to thinking about when this happened, when my brother worked at a Trader Joes here in Massachusetts.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...trader+joe%27s

Janice, I just got up and saw this. OMG, I'm so sorry this happened. Accidents like that are just terrible--I don't know any other way to put it. The poor driver, how horrible he must have felt, the co-workers and the dead man's relatives how shocked and grief stricken. When I hear about accidents like this, I feel sick all over. Before I was born a young uncle of mine was a lineman and was electocuted in a freak job accident--he was 28. He was married only 9 months, his wife was 20 and was six months pregnant at the time. So his little girl was born without knowing her father. My aunt remarried six years later--but to this day--53+ years after the accident--she still remembers her first beloved vividly. Life can be so cruel at times.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by rich p

Before I was born a young uncle of mine was a lineman and was electocuted in a freak job accident--he was 28. He was married only 9 months, his wife was 20 and was six months pregnant at the time. So his little girl was born without knowing her father. My aunt remarried six years later--but to this day--53+ years after the accident--she still remembers her first beloved vividly. Life can be so cruel at times.

That's a very, very sad story, Rich. Widowed at 20 and pregnant. Heartbreaking. I'm glad your aunt found love again, and I hope and guess that her second husband was a good father to her daughter.