Politic?

This is a blog dedicated to a personal interpretation of political news of the day. I attempt to be as knowledgeable as possible before commenting and committing my thoughts to a day's communication.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Food Grade Salt - Oops

There seems always to be news coming out of China of lead-impregnated paint used in toys for children, lead the leading base metal used for the manufacture of cheap jewellery aimed at children, plastic used in milk, and all kinds of food products 'enhanced' by the presence of forbidden chemicals, metals, carcinogens.

China, as a result of its regulations and quality assurances being lacking, has earned a reputation for food contamination.

But Iceland? As a result of inattention? Imperilling the health and well-being of its food consumers using industrial-grade salt routinely for the past thirteen years? Are they that lacking in standards and acknowledgement of due diligence? Apparently so. For it seems that Iceland has been in the habit of purchasing industrial-grade salt, clearly marked as such, from Denmark.

This is the kind of industrial-grade salt used to de-ice highways in winter, or in all manner of chemical production techniques. Yet Olgerdin Egill Skallagrimsson, an Icelandic wholesale importer and beverage producer, has routinely used this industrial-grade salt. It has been used in food production by dozens of Icelandic meat producers, fish producers and bakeries.

Although the salt bags were clearly marked as containing industrial salt, the chief executive of Olgerdin indicated that company employees took little notice. "We were not aware that the salt was not certified for food production. We knew it was for industrial use, but thought it was for the food industry."

Oh.

On the other hand, the salt was not obviously stamped "food grade". And it was not certified for food industry use. An apology was in order. And it was issued, to the public at large. Olgerdin admitted their negligence. They were in error. No harm done. In all likelihood. One can only suppose Icelanders are a very hardy lot.

Despite which, health officials in the country verified that the industrial salt was "not safe and should not be on the market". And MS Iceland Dairies, the country's largest dairy producer, recalled five products from stores since the salt was part of the ingredients. Of course thirteen years-worth of products could not be recalled.

"The salt is not safe because foreign entities can be found in it, for example rocks, metals and other things that are filtered out of table salt", explained Reykjavik Health Protection Authority official Oskar Isfeld Sigurdson, to the daily Frettabladid.

Good thing that's cleared up. Icelanders can now go about their business trusting the intelligent acumen of their food producers.

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