Re: Heinz shutdown in Leamington has Wynne on defensive, Nov. 19

Re: He won't buy ketchup made in China, Letter Nov. 20

Heinz shutdown in Leamington has Wynne on defensive, Nov. 19

So, the government has done everything it can; that means it is up to us the people to do something. We have to say, “No you don’t put a 1,000 workers and farmers out of a job.”

When Caterpillar closed its plant in London, the governments were worse than useless and we the people could do very little other than protest. But “ketchup” — now that is a different matter. Heinz is playing the people’s game.

I expect that there is a bottle of Heinz ketchup in every home in Canada, but suppose in a week or two there was none? With a simple boycott, “We the people” could really put the “squeeze” on Heinz.

Keith Parkinson, Cambridge

He won't buy ketchup made in China, Letter Nov. 20

I agree with your reader, Edward Farkas, who refuses to buy food or cosmetics made in China. However, this is easier said than done. Companies are not required to print where foods come on on their packaging.

After examining the content of my fridge and food cupboard, I was shocked that so many items did not specify the country of origin. Many labels say “under license by xxxx” where xxxx is a Canadian or American company but it doesn’t mention at all where the item or ingredients are made. Many of the foods we eat might have been sourced in Canada or the U.S. but the spices come from China.

The consumer has the right to know where the food we buy comes from and the food industry should be required to divulge this information on the packaging. We know where our t-shirts, TVs and other consumer goods are from, why not food?

Claude Gannon, Markham

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