Mystery Meat
Remember when you went to school, ate the cafeteria and they had ‘mystery meat day‘? I mean that goes back a long time ago, but these days, well, it seems that the mystery isn’t what is the meat, but what nasty germ or virus it has with it. Take this whole Listeria Outbreak up here. Reminiscent of the recent salmonella outbreak in the States, in that the federal health agency can’t seem to determine EXACTLY what is causing the illness.
“While these results are highly significant, and indicate that the investigation is on the right path, the investigation is not complete,” the agency said. “Test results on additional food samples expected next week will advance the investigation further.” (source – CBC News)
I have a lot of problems with this. I mean to begin with, this announcement comes late Saturday night, with the list being released on Sunday. Now I am not sure, but when did Government actually work on a weekend? And it isn’t like on Friday they didn’t have an inkling about all this either. In fact, there was a sort of advanced leak about this happening, that the recall would be expanded. There was even an article about how Maple Leaf Foods claims it isn’t their fault, even though the supposed results weren’t know, or available.
So why a Saturday Release Date?
If the Government actually received the news Saturday in the morning, or afternoon, okay I can see them making the release a few hours later. What I don’t believe, is that they got the results in the morning or afternoon, but instead that they sat on them until Saturday evening. I used to not believe that sort of stuff, but lately I am wondering, given the closeness between business and the Harper Government. Oh hell, between any Government.
I see it in the FDA & USDA down south, and given how Harper mirrors everything Bush does, I would not be surprised to see it happening up here, as well. And that pisses me off. I mean seriously, it is just so wrong, to be put into a position where one cannot trust a Government agency to do its job, which is a pretty damn important job.
This whole issue is just a tip of the iceberg, if you ask me. I think we are being sold down the river, all in the name of increased corporate profits. Part of the Free Trade crap with the States & Mexico. To begin with, how in the hell can the Government Agency NOT KNOW the cause. Are they not doing proper & regular testing? And you have to love Maple Leaf, who claim innocence, but add to their recall as a precaution.
I might have believed that before, but not these days. For that wariness, I blame Stephen Harper and his closeness to Bush. If he was a real man, INDEPENDENT OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, then I wouldn’t feel this way, but given how he has caved on all major issues, how he protects people who take bribes, like Brian Mulroney, and how he keeps everything behind closed doors, how can one trust any agency?
The issue of all this, is that it isn’t just about trusting our Government. It is about insuring that our corporate citizens are held accountable too. If we don’t like the Government, we can toss them out, which I hope will happen very soon. But we can’t toss out any of the Corporate Big Shots. Take this whole Maple Leaf Foods situation.
Even if I wanted to boycott their product, how in hell can I? Look at the list of stuff they produce, and all the various brand names that use it. Like did you have any idea that Schneider’s used their product? I sure as hell didn’t, and then how about MacDonalds? They are on the list too, of brands that should be recalled. Like who knew that they used Maple Leaf Products?
(See the Health Hazard Alert by the Federal Government HERE)
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth. (source)
All this gets released on a Sunday? I am sorry, but frankly this just smells. It smells that we get informed, after we have done our weekend shopping. I mean how many people will get any notice of these added recalls with their Sunday Paper? Further, how many will check websites on a Saturday evening or Sunday?
This just sounds like a ploy, to avoid the major news cycles, so as to not have this recall be fully felt by the company, and also to avoid any market loss for the company. At the same time, it minimizes the number of people who are informed, which certainly maximizes the risk to the public. Yet that somehow, just doesn’t seem important.
I mean I went shopping today, saw tons of these products on the shelf, even some being added, but was it safe to buy, to consume? I have no way of knowing, again, due to the inability of the Health Agency to properly inform the public. Again, WHY?
This is why we really do need a more stringent health code, and label law. Yes, Harper has promised us one, but I still haven’t seen it come into being, not to mention the supposed loopholes in it. I mean how hard is it to simply label where the damn stuff comes from? Like really, if the meat plant doesn’t know where its beef comes from, they shouldn’t be selling beef. Same for any plant.
And what about all the canned stuff out there? Do you know if the can of stew you bought today was part of the recalled products from Maple Leaf? I mean if a guy died back in early July from this, what about all the stuff sold for use in canned goods? Have they hit the shelf yet? AND HOW WILL WE KNOW?
Looking at that list, I notice MacDonalds and Mister Submarine there. Now how in the hell am I supposed to know if they actually did remove the bad stuff? Hell how do I know if my local grocery store did? I am sure the pimply faced kid at MacDonalds won’t be able to tell me, and not like their managers would know either. Same with the guy stocking the shelfs at the local Safeway. They aren’t going to know, nor is there any documentation up to warn me either.
What if I bought some of those smokies? How am I even going to know there is a problem with the package I tucked into the freezer, if my grocery store acts like there isn’t any recall happening?
Not only do we need tougher inspections of the food producing plants, but we need tougher reporting laws so that we, the victims, can be better informed. WE NEED TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY, NOT LONG AFTER THE FACT.
Sphere: Related ContentIan @ August 26, 2008