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> Small retail businesses selling spices in larger quantities may buy direct from their countries of origin — which provides another opening for organised criminals to penetrate supply chains that are not as heavily regulated, says Elliott.

I'm confused, is this about food or FUD?

Yeah, "their countries of origin" --- those damn crooked little stores run by colored folk!

Why, I'm running scared to the nearest SuperValu, Trader Joe's or Walmarts, who would never buy cases of stuff direct from suppliers in those same countries!

> Elliott says he declined through fear an invitation from a Turkish processor to fly over and tour its facilities. “I thought, ‘I don’t think I’ll do that, because I’ll probably never come home again.’”

Undoubtedly, Elliott once saw Midnight Express, and thought it was a travel documentary.




As you point out, it's necessary to be vigilant about protectionism trying to masquerade as 'food safety'.

However, there are real concerns too: http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-home-of-olive-oil-and-m...

At the same time, Italy is also a victim of protectionism against things like prosciutto and salame and other wonderful foods that are difficult to get in the US.

So... best to judge on a case by case basis.


I don't know if it is the correct interpretation, but I read it as "the countries of origin of the spices."


I thought the article was informative. As for your last point there may well be some good explanation, like a throwaway comment in good humor, which gets interpreted literally by the journalist.




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