Food politics people like myself have been howling in the wind for years about the dangers of our huge processed food production chain. For years we have wondered how to convince people that local and sustainable is better, that supporting smaller companies that care about their products is better, that knowing what is in your food is better?
But over the last two years it is becoming clear that the massive food industry is doing our work for us! It will be our job to point people in the right direction after more and more stories break. Sadly though, these stories and negligence of the food industry usually involve people getting sick, and in the latest cases-- people dying from the industrial food chain.
The new culprit-- Peanut Butter- And products made with Peanut butter. You've read by now about the Peanut Salmonella tainted food. Officials say nearly 500 people have been sickened in 43 states, and it is believed to be a contributing factor in the deaths of at least 11 people so far.
The FDA have posted a recall list that is simply huge. These are all products that may contain the tainted processed peanut butter. And the list is NOT complete.
The nationwide recall is for peanut butter and peanut paste produced by Peanut Corporation of America in its Blakely, Ga., processing facility. PCA provides peanut paste and butter for everything from crackers to dog biscuits, cookies, cakes, candies, ice cream... the list is seemingly endless.
Meanwhile at PCA, the workers are the latest victims;
The company linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak has laid off the employees and stopped production. The FDA is investigating up to one-thousand reports of salmonella traced to peanut paste made at the Peanut Corporation of America.
It is time to be more conscious and present. More aware of what we choose to eat and why. It is time to demand increased regulations, it is time to support small companies over these huge careless machines who care only about sources the cheapest base ingredients possible. It is time to make better choices.
To date massive companies have made people sick on Beef, Spinach, Peppers, and now Peanut butter. (not to mention the intentional manipulation of milk products in China)
It may cost a bit more to shop locally and smartly-- but it is surely worth it.
