Costs Increase, Quality Decreases, Food Supply In Danger

Ever notice how things just aren't the same as they once were. Costs constantly go up, yet quality rarely improves.

This is especially true of our food supply. For the past month – maybe longer if it continues – Canadians have been fearful of eating anything with beef, as massive recall of contaminated ground beef from an American supplier grows daily. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) seems to announce new products affected by the recall almost every day.

Today, popcorn – of all things – is being recalled because of listeria.

Whether it’s been spinach or brussel sprouts infected with ecoli, chicken with salmonella, or processed smoked lunch meat with some other dangerous or in some cases deadly bacteria, our food prices have increased with the costs of living, yet the quality has dropped.

Over a decade ago one seldom had to worry about the quality of the food being consumed – food recalls only happened once, or twice a year – if that.

These days, thanks to corporate cutbacks to trim bottom lines, food recalls happen almost once a month, if not more.

Oh they do affect the belts of big business. Maple Leaf Foods lost millions a few years ago, after several people across Canada died from tainted processed meat products from the now infamous company. In 2008, 38 confirmed cases of listeriosis across Canada directly related to listeria in their contaminated meats at the time, 9 confirmed deaths, and another 11 suspected deaths that couldn't be directly linked to recalled products.

Since then, Maple Leaf Foods has cleaned up its act, and hasn't had a major incident – they did a voluntary recall in 2009 but no injuries or deaths resulted in consumption of their food products.

During the recalls, the company’s profits sank, as did their stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The company still produces food products sold around the world, and to major fast food retailers including McDonald’s.

But the real question we consumers need to ask – why are we paying more for less? Yes the costs of everything increase over time. However, doesn't that cost increase justify more – not less – quality. At the very least we should be demanding better quality products and services – not less.