Lies, Lies, Corporate Lies Kill Children for Profit

For 25 years I have lived in the Italian neighborhood of Indianapolis where the annual, wildly successful Italian Festival is held each June. What remains of the neighborhoods Italian Matriarchs gather each year and sequester themselves in the parish basement and begin preparing vats of marinara, Alfredo Sauce, Meatballs, Lasagna, Italian sausages, and a plethora of traditional entrees and desserts that are sold to raise money for the parish.

One day last June, one of my favorite geriatric Italian women and I were talking and the subject of trust came up. "Wendell", she said in her thick Italian voice, waving her aging, bony finger in my face, "Don'ta trusta nobody. Always remember".

And boy was she right in so many ways. We can't trust anyone in the FDA, EPA, wayward ministers, Priests, corporate clones, hospitals, advertisers, marketers, drug companies, product labels, pro athletes,...you name it. When money enters the picture, ethics make an hasty retreat: Even if you are spiritually inclined. The human equation.

Cargill voluntarily recalled nearly 1 million pounds of ground beef linked to possible E.Coli contamination, its second recall this year. And Topps Meat Co. in September issued the second-largest recall in U.S. history -- 21.7 million pounds of ground beef -- that put the New Jersey-based meat producer out of business. They screwed up by trusting that the H.A.C.C.P inspections put into place were actually being enforced, otherwise these recalls would not occur. Almost weekly, we read a about a horrific recall of some food or another that could harm our health and kill our children and it's mostly human error and greed.

If you have not perused this web site, it is a must: http://www.factoryfarming.com/
You will never be the same. And remember, don't trust anyone when money is involved.
Chef Wendell