# Canned Green Peas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004 "2014-08-20T15:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/41 "2014-08-21T02:45:15Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Then why are we importing green peas from the other side of the world?šŸ˜• When 2/3 of the US/Canada is under snow and freezing weather, where do you think the vast majority of produce comes from? The northern 2/3 of continental US/Canada import everything save what little is greenhouse grown, whether that import is from southern states or international, the vast majority of US/Canadians donā€™t seem to care as long as they can get ā€œfreshā€ peaches or peas in January. True, the US grows more than enough food to feed itself every year. People donā€™t want to eat preserved (canned, jarred, frozen, pickled) produce and root vegetables and apples all winter. They donā€™t have to. Say a Chinese farmer grows 6 tonnes of peas. He saturates the Chinese market with 4 tonnes of them fresh, what does he do with the rest? Well, he freezes another ton of them for shipping to whoever wants them frozen, and cans another ton for whoever wants them canned. Those shipments go out to whoever took his (likely lowest) offer. Ever shopped for food at a dollar store? Lots of stuff from China in there. Another kicker? Canned and frozen items, if they contain produce from more than one country, then donā€™t have to mark the country of origin of each of the produce items, only the country where it was all packed together into the retail bag youā€™re buying. So you could buy a can of peas/carrots/corn and the label will say where it was packaged, NOT where each of the veg came from, UNLESS they all happened to come from the same country. Got any mixed veg cans in that free bag of food? You donā€™t have any idea where that came from. Give it back. Donā€™t throw it out, though. Throwing it out would be a real douche move. Thatā€™s the kind of stuff that keeps people from wanting to give in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/42 "2014-08-21T02:49:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [Counterfeit drug.](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/health/20heparin.html) Not Canned Peas > [@](#): > > [World wide.](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/world/americas/06poison.html) Also not canned peas. > [@](#): > > [Lead content including toothpaste, childrenā€™s toys.](http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/preventive-care/china-lead-poisoning.htm) Again unless they are painting the peas with lead paint or adding fake drugs none of these are relevant. And Iā€™m pretty sure pet food is not the same as canned peas either. Although having had the misfortune of being served canned peas as a child Iā€™m not positive about this claim. Just give them back but donā€™t deny someone else food that was given in the spirit of charity. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/43 "2014-08-21T02:56:12Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Not Canned Peas > > Also not canned peas. > > Again unless they are painting the peas with lead paint or adding fake drugs none of these are relevant. > > And Iā€™m pretty sure pet food is not the same as canned peas either. Although having had the misfortune of being served canned peas as a child Iā€™m not positive about this claim. > > Just give them back but donā€™t deny someone else food that was given in the spirit of charity. Iā€™m sure the families of the dead are giving thanks it wasnā€™t canned peas. You actually donā€™t care if thereā€™s lead in your toothpaste? Or lead paint on toys intended for small children? Why are you defending the shitstains responsible for this? ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/44 "2014-08-21T03:07:36Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Why are you defending the shitstains responsible for this? Whoā€™s defending them? Weā€™re saying itā€™s stupid and wasteful to throw out a can of perfectly good peas. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/45 "2014-08-21T03:14:32Z")
[Contaminated honey.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/11/127764536/honey-tainted-with-antibiotic-seized-in-philadelphia) > [@](#): > > ā€œThe FDA took this action because of the potential serious public health effects of this product,ā€ said Michael Chappell, the FDAā€™s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, in a . The honey contained , a potent antibiotic that can cause anemia, and isnā€™t supposed to be in food. [More melamine milk.](http://www.aei.org/article/lesson-for-policymakers-china-is-incapable-of-combating-food-and-drug-fraud-which-has-implications-for-us-here-in-america/) Even after the massive poisoning in 2008, they were still at it in 2011. > [@](#): > > Yet another food scandal is gripping China. On Monday tons of melamine-contaminated milk products were seized from warehouses in Chongqing, a vast municipal area with 35 million inhabitants. The tainted milk powder would have made tons of pastry and ice-cream; fortunately most of it was caught before any serious damage occurred. [Phony pills and electronics.](http://www.wnd.com/2014/04/chinese-delivery-of-fakepharmaceuticals-uncovered/) > [@](#): > > Millions of fake pills from China, some with no active ingredients and others with the wrong contents, have been uncovered and confiscated by customs officers in France. > > In the latest episode of faulty, fraudulent or faked Chinese products, the officers say they nabbed 2.4 million fake pills that were hidden in boxes marked ā€œChinese tea,ā€ Reuters reported. > [@](#): > > In the U.S., one recent recall of a faulty Chinese product was for a surge protector that started fires, including one that caused $916,000 damage to one home. > [@](#): > > Fake electronics have been found in thermal weapons sights delivered to the U.S. Army, computer chips were found to have been recycled, toy castles had parts that could choke children, kidsā€™ jewelry was poisoned, air pumps exploded and oil-filled heaters caused fires. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/46 "2014-08-21T03:29:50Z")
I start each day with the confidence that if I die that day, it will not be the Chinese who kill me. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/47 "2014-08-21T03:35:10Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Iā€™m sure the families of the dead are giving thanks it wasnā€™t canned peas. > > You actually donā€™t care if thereā€™s lead in your toothpaste? Or lead paint on toys intended for small children? > Why are you defending the shitstains responsible for this? Maybe you arenā€™t as much as a foodie as me, but toothpaste and painted toys arenā€™t at the top of the list of things I would eat. Did you read the OP? Did she get a painted toy in her bag? I guess I just love those wacky Chineseā€¦ what can I say. Ok, I can say that you were asked to provide one single example of a death caused by a canned vegetable from China and you provided links to fake drugs (very similar manufacturers to major food packagers) and toys with lead paint. So, do you have one example of a death caused by a Chinese canned food or not? If so, do you want to bet I can find one from a similar product from the US, or UK, or Mexico, orā€¦ well you pick it. A Ford Pinto manufactured in the 70ā€™s had a gas tank that was prone to explosion. Fords are made in America. America also grows corn. Some corn is Pop Corn. Cars made in America can explodeā€¦ Corn made in America can Pop. No more American products for me! Also, all of the Billions of Chinese are ā€œShitstainsā€ through guilt by association apparentlyā€¦ or maybe all Chinese companies. By the same logic, apparently all Straight Dope posters areā€¦ (edited to avoid a warning). ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/48 "2014-08-21T03:42:00Z")
I really donā€™t care to spend too much time on figuring out the quotes etc. Honey is not a canned vegetable, nor is Melamine Milk, nor are fake pills and electronics. Please post something relevant. We are not debating if Chinese products overall are good or bad, but if a can of peas should be treated like toxic waste because someone who is taking free food finds it beneath their standards to eat, and would rather throw it away than give it to someone who is hungry. ---
**Author:** ![chronometer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@chronometer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chronometer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/49 "2014-08-21T10:38:46Z")
[The Monkfish that wasnā€™t.](http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2007/ucm108920.htm) [Have some Antifreeze Toothpaste.](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm153155.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/50 "2014-08-21T10:52:24Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > I got a brown bag from the FoodPantry. Among other things there was a can of Green Peas. On the back of the can is ā€œMade in Chinaā€ Iā€™m throwing them out. I canā€™t weed out everything grown/made/ in China,but I do my best. I believe they are trying to poison usā€¦ Theyā€™ve poisoned thousands of our pets,millions of their own children. > Am I crazy? Am I prudent? Am I something elseā€¦ Youā€™re a nutter. Why on earth would China be trying to poison _us_ when they rely so much upon exports to the rest of the world? If youā€™d use half of your brain, youā€™d realise that their aim would be to KEEP US ALIVE so that they can continue to make money out of us. Ditto with our pets, and their kids. FFS, Iā€™ve never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. Who the fuck are you again?? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/51 "2014-08-21T11:22:36Z")
The right question to ask is ā€œwhat is the rate of contaminated food coming from China, and, equally important, how does that rate compare to equivalent foods processed in America?ā€ IF thereā€™s a statistically significant increase in risk from China (and Iā€™m willing to accept that there might be), then we have to ask if that increased risk justifies wasting a can of peas. We need numbers, people! How are we supposed to make decisions without data?! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/52 "2014-08-21T11:32:05Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > How are we supposed to make decisions without data?! By knee-jerk application of xenophobic panic, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/53 "2014-08-21T12:04:13Z")
Xenophobic? I think not. If I had beef from Rancho Feeding Corp Iā€™d throw that out too.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/54 "2014-08-21T12:06:23Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Lorene doesnā€™t trust peas from China. I donā€™t know how she feels about peas from other countries but I have a feeling weā€™ll never have World Peas. Well, maybe her food processor is broken, and sheā€™s upset that she canā€™t have Whirled Peas. Ironically enough, I had to return two jars of Almond Butter yesterday because of the possibility of (listeria? salmonella? somethingā€¦). Jarred right here in the good, olā€™ USA. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/55 "2014-08-21T12:47:43Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Xenophobic? I think not. > [@Lorene89095](#): > > I believe they are trying to poison usā€¦ I guess weā€™ll have to agree to differ then. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/56 "2014-08-21T13:01:29Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Xenophobic? I think not. > If I had beef from Rancho Feeding Corp Iā€™d throw that out too.:eek: Thank you for using this exampleā€¦ Rancho Feeding Corp is one beef producer in the US. Are you planning to toss out any meat from the US you are given? You may have heard of a few products that came from China that were taintedā€¦ so you are condemning all of them. Were your peas produced by a plant that has any history of problems? GM produced some cars with faulty ignitions that caused deathsā€¦ if someone wants to give you an American car will you throw it away? Please donā€™t go to a food bank ever again. If you arenā€™t hungry enough to eat Chinese peas you arenā€™t hungry enough to get free food. More importantly donā€™t throw itā€¦ give it back. Better yet sort through everything before you leave and let the people who are volunteering their time to work the food bank see what kind of person you are. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/57 "2014-08-21T13:26:40Z")
You are a strange person. Did you have to clean your plate at every meal? Iā€™m poor but pickey,which is allowed. If I could grow a garden here I would. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/58 "2014-08-21T13:33:26Z")
Man, I had no idea. Iā€™m so busy reading calories and the like, it never even occurred to me to notice where it was made. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/59 "2014-08-21T13:34:24Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > You are a strange person. Did you have to clean your plate at every meal? > Iā€™m poor but pickey,which is allowed. If I could grow a garden here I would. Be as picky as you want, but only take home the food you plan to use so as many people as possible can eat. Someone else may be picky in a different way than you and would want the peas youā€™ve rejected. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004/60 "2014-08-21T13:35:47Z")
Btw,the peas had 390mg of sodium per serving:eek:3.5 servings per can. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-green-peas/696004.md?page=4)