Unfortunately, the first 3 digits (EAN) of the bar code do NOT always indicate the product's country of origin. There are ways to get around it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes

I snoped this and this is true!

Really? I "Snoped" this and it was False.

Snopes stated that the first 3 numbers of EAN (European Article Number - not a US barcode) barcodes state where the code was ASSIGNED but not neccesarily country of origin.

You should look for Country of Origin labels on packaging.

I find myself avoiding all C of O - China products if possible.

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes

This not necessarily true. See the link for what Snopes says.

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes Barcodes

The bar codes represent where the end product itself was made. It does not indicate where the ingredients used to manufacture the product came from.

For instance, if you are buying a frozen cake, the cake itself may have been made in the US but the raw ingredients such as powdered milk may have come from China (and the sugar came from the Bahamas, and the oil came from Italy, and the eggs came from........ ect.)

Just a heads up.

How funny! We all cross posted.

I think this is all good info good to be alert in any case.
pretty soon our money will be made in other countries

I wouldn't feed my baby regular infant formula...back almost 30 years ago, so I sure wouldn't feed it to one now. It was breast milk all the way. I feel so badly for the little babies fed that formula in China.

I have just almost completely quit buying any premade processed foods. I eat meat, vegetables, and fruit and I don't like buying it from Mexico or Chile either, but sometimes buy it for the possums, and of course, I buy bananas, wherever they come from.

Maybe I'm reading the barcodes wrong. I'm having problems matching up barcodes with the codes even when the label states country of origin.

For instance, I have a can of sliced bamboo shoots. The can states that this is a product of China and it was imported by JFC International in California. The bar code is 01115245304.

I also have a can of smoked oysters impoted by Crown Prince in California that states it is a product of China. The barcode is 07323000051. I'm not sure how old this purchase is so it may pre-date the current barcode system. The bamboo shoots can is a recent purchase. Normally, I avoid made in China, but I would expect bamboo shoots to come from a country like China.

The zeros at the beginning of the code is a smaller zero. I never know whether to include that in the code. I did include it here.

I do have a huge bag of Riceland Rice which states that it is a product of the USA. I know Riceland grows rice in Arkansas so I believe this claim. The barcode is 00035200055932. That code does match up.

I'm really trying to avoid anything from China. Today in Lowes, though, I needed a replacement globe for a ceiling fan and the only globes were from China. Why don't they carry any made in the U.S. or other countries? I would've paid a little more if I had to.

Maybe this will help Iowa girl...I was going on what I received in an e-mail. I think the mail issue will be the health of the American People.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://bbs.ly.ha.cn/dispbbs.asp?BoardID=7&replyID=5378972&ID=1790721&skin=1

I really think anything circulated via an e-mail should be thoroughly vetted before it is spread. Snopes is always a good place to check, as is Google.

I'm curious, why is your link to a Chinese website?

Host name: bbs.ly.ha.cn
canonical name: bbs.ly.ha.cn
202.102.227.17 is from China(CN) in region Southern and Eastern Asia

Domain Name: ly.ha.cn
ROID: 20021209s10041s00001646-cn
Name Server:ns.hazzptt.net.cn
Registration Date: 1999-05-25 00:00
Expiration Date: 2011-05-25 00:00

person: Wei Wang
nic-hdl: WW444-AP
e-mail: abuse@public.zz.ha.cn
address: #37 Wei Wu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan Provice
phone: +86-371-65952358
fax-no: +86-371-65968952
country: CN
changed: wangw@data.zz.ha.cn 20060205
mnt-by: MAINT-CNCGROUP-HA
source: APNIC

I live in an agricultural area of my state. There is a dairy farm (yes, cows) in the next town. I always buy products made by this dairy farm. I will not buy other brands, even famous national brands.

Posted by minnie_tx: "Pretty soon our money will be made in other countries"

It already is.

Read the book:
The Secret War with Iran By Ronen Bergman

For a shorter overview, read link below and then Google for more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Counterfeit Dollars Made in Middle East

I am a little late with this, but I also checked snopes. It is a mulitple. Not reliable at all. And I just made a complete list to carry with me. LOL

Thanks for setting this ignorant girl straight!!!

Whenever you get something in an email, it's best to assume it's FALSE until proven true. Especially if it has FWD or FW in the subject! It generally takes less time to verify it's a hoax than it takes to send the email to everyone in your address book. If it says they checked it with Snopes, CNN or God, it's a pretty safe bet they didn't. And if it said something like "send this to everyone you know...", DON'T!

It's also a good idea to educate the person who sends you this spam. I cannot understand why people give email such absolute gospel-level of credibility on the most incredible things. Bill Gates WON'T pay you to send emails, nor will AOL; there's no bill to tax emails (though there should be); there is nobody who was charged $250 for a cookie recipe; there's no kidney theft ring working hotels and the Nigerian General WON'T make you a millionaire. (He promised that to me!)

I've thought it would be interesting to test a theory: Send out an email telling everyone to stand in the middle of the road, flap their arms and cluck like a chicken at high noon on Christmas Day or the troops will not have underwear for two months. Just add that I checked it out and it's true. I wonder how many roads would be blocked by crowds? I suspect that many roads would would be impassable.

Email hoaxes are a virus of their own. They tie up bandwith and cause trouble the world over. They cost people and companies money. Please don't feed the spammers.