Damn shame things get to a point where even little things catch the eye as suspect. This article discussing some food shipments and mentions that some from one (small) supplier were over fortefied. Two things kicked into my mind - 1, why not name the supplier outright (which is what I would like to know) and 2-is that supplier someone not friendly to the administration and this is punishment (and no, I would not put it past them to intimidate those who contributed to other parties).
And if I were super paranoid I would wonder (x-files like) since they are holding shipments to test if they might put something in it...
Ah, the paranoia...
USDA AND USAID INFORMATION ON OVER-FORTIFIED CORN SOY BLEND FOOD AID
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2005- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today issued the following information regarding over-fortified corn soy blend food aid:
Each year the U.S. government through the USDA and the USAID contributes over 3 million metric tons of food to help feed the undernourished people of the developing world. This assistance includes emergency programs aimed at meeting the most immediate needs of food-insecure populations.
One of these products, a vitamin and mineral fortified mixture of corn and soy, known as Corn Soy Blend (CSB), has proven especially effective in saving the lives of some of the most vulnerable and malnourished populations, particularly children. The U.S. provides over 250,000 metric tons of CSB as food aid annually.
Recently, USDA and USAID learned that a small percentage of CSB from one supplier (approximately 1,100 metric tons) was over-fortified with iron during the production process.Although experts advise that there is no serious health impact from consuming mineral over-fortified CSB, USAID and USDA have previously notified and instructed all partners in the field to immediately suspend distribution of the product until further testing is completed. The State Department notified embassies of the action being taken and advised them to inform foreign governments of the suspension.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2005%2F05%2F0190.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_navtype=RT&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM