China Law Blog

The US public's discomfort with Chinese products seems to be made up of 50% valid concern and 50% racism and xenophobia. Hmmm, so what is Trader Joe's to do? They are in a difficult spot. On one hand, they have their business bottom line and indeed there are probably higher instances of unsafe products in China. On the other hand, Trader Joe's Chinese suppliers may be entirely innocent and Trader Joe's is playing into the darker side of the American mind set.

I forgot whether Trade Joe's ever sold beef? If it did, I guess it is time to ban foods manufactured and originated in the US of AAA?

Ouch!

Dan, in fact, nobody (except Traders Joe's, at this point) can be sure where substitute products may be sourced from. So an Indonesia vs. China comparison may not be the case.

Also, you've lived here, you know that food quality and safety is a key concern among Chinese. But for those of us living here, we don't have a lot of alternatives sans Jenny Lou's, the Korean market in Silver Garden (in QD), or Metro -- or, hoping for the best at either Carrefour, Wal-Mart or Jusco. And for anyone on a domestic package, you know that foreign products come at a relatively high premium.

But Americans do have a choice, so why take any risk with made-in-China foodstuffs? No need to. I wouldn't if I had the option. Also, Trader Joe's is simply reacting to market conditions, so it's good business for them to make this decision at this time.

Finally, just because the parking at the nearest TJ's to you sucks, this doesn't mean that TJ's is a bad place to shop. In fact, I miss TJ's; I used to shop at the one in Menlo Park when I lived in the Mid-Peninsula and at different ones in L.A. Great wines at a great price, too!! Hard to beat. Also, it's cheap -- which isn't a bad thing. Whole Foods is a great place to shop, but way too expensive; TJ's has the feel of a country store, with great prices, generally in a nice environment.

Clearly, I'm with TJ's on this point. And next time you stock up on wine, definitely go to TJ's.

Trader Joe's is a seller of higher-end groceries and prepared foods, so price concerns aren't the same for them as it would be with a large chain grocer. That's why they can afford this "strategy."

This is obviously a PR move and is probably fueled by racism and xenophobia as JMS noted. Cynical perhaps, but then again fear sells just about as well as sex in the US. Our political culture is dominated by fear of the terrorists so why shouldn't we be told that Chinese food will kill you and the suppliers are evil cheats who kick puppies and steal candy from babies?

People are more likely to blindly heed these warnings than go through the trouble to substantiate every claim. The wheels of capitalism are oiled with ignorance: ignorance about prices, services, risk, etc. I should know-my livelihood depends on someone else's inability to read Chinese!

This isn't a case of Trader Joe's "Spewing Hatred". They are reacting to their market, who has had Fear Uncertainty Doubt (FUD) fed to them by sensationalist media and politicians looking for a cause.

"until our customers feel AS CONFIDENT AS WE DO about the quality and safety of Chinese products."

They are EXPLICITY saying that they feel confident about the products from China, which is the exact opposite of "spewing hatred".

I'm not saying they're doing the right thing, but they certainly are not doing what you say they're doing.

I have never seen Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and/or Indonesian food in Trader Joe. Maybe they are already banned. Are there any Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indonesian foods found in any supermarket in China ? If not, are the Chinese supermarkets racist too ?

Yea I think you're jumping to conclusions. I miss my TJs (I'm in China now) and its cheap prices and neighborhood feel. How many articles have come out recently about the completely unhealthy levels of steroids and pesticides in Chinese food? You can't deny that there has been food that's come out of China that has been proven unhealthy. Does that mean it's all bad or that other neighboring countries have something better? No. But do you think Olympic athletes are being racist by having food shipped from America instead of eating what's here? I'm not one to complain (I love the food here) but I really don't want to know what's in it because, as David mentioned, we have no other choices. I don't make enough money to shop at the Lohao. There definitely may be xenophobia tied in but I think to consider boycotting TJs because they're responding to customer concerns is a little dramatic.

This Wash Post article reports that inspectors rejected 298 food shipments from China in a four-month period.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/19/AR2007051901273_pf.html

We don't know how many of those items were single-ingredient foods. As an importer of food product from around the world, TJ's may know a few things that the rest of us don't.

I'm in San Francisco for the week on a Sojourn from Shanghai. I went to TJs the first day I arrived back. I love TJs. They are the smartest and savviest grocer anywhere.

In Shanghai I have shopped at Carrefour, the gourmet shops on Jing'an Temple, expat delis on Hengshan road, the many street level fruit stands, the small chinese grocery shops in the Channing district, RT mart in Kunshan as well as other grocery outlets there.

China's food does not have the scrutiny of the FDA or USDA....yet. I enjoy my conversations with roaches on the shelf as I shop for spices near my apartment in Channing. I also enjoy the well lit wide aisle of TJs as I look for my favourite dark chocolate caramels.

TJs is just responding to the market like any other savvy business person would. Reality is perception. Propaganda rules the masses...There are no better oranges than those found in China.

I remember reading something last year saying the US actually rejected more food shipments from India and Mexico than those from China. How come Trader Joe's is not banning Indian and Mexcian made food products?