Buy American

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6/26/2007, 6:08 pm

"Buy American" is a phrase one doesn’t hear very often these days. Not like in the past. When I was a child television commercials encouraged consumers to "Buy American." I haven’t seen the commercial in a long time.

The "Buy American" concept was once so important that it became law. The Buy American Act of 1933 required that the US government prefer domestically produced products.

Of course, "Buying American" has become increasingly difficult because so many American corporations have outsourced their manufacturing processes overseas. It’s a little tongue in cheek to ask, but what DO we make in America anymore?

So many important things are imported, that it’s hard to remember when something wasn’t being recalled or a warning to consumers wasn’t being issued because of poor quality control at a foreign manufacturing plant. And it’s important to remember, poor quality control at a foreign manufacturing facility does not excuse the poor inspection procedures of American companies failing to adequately examine their imported products after they arrive but before they are offered to consumers.

Recent problems include pet food recalls because of melamine-adulterated wheat gluten imported from China, the FDA’s warning to avoid toothpaste imported from China that may contain diethylene glycol, concerns about the safety of imported fish which have led several states to ban certain fish from China and Viet Nam, and today, the Wall Street Journal reports that at least 450,000 Chinese-made tires sold in the U.S. may lack an important safety feature.

When you purchase a product from an American company, you should be able to trust the company to provide a safe product. As more American businesses rely on imported products, it becomes more difficult to eat, drive, brush your teeth, etc. without being concerned about your health.

(So that you realize this post is not written with xenophobic slant, even when you Buy American and it was grown in the US, there’s still no guarantee of safety. It’s hard not to remember this year’s recall of e coli-infected greens grown in this country.)

Bottom Line: it’s time to be picky about what you buy and (when you can find it) Buy American.

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