Makes you Wonder

[Stargrace]

For those who may not be aware, Canada (specifically around the Ontario region) has had a huge food recall from all Maple Leaf meat products (specifically sandwich meat) as they're contaminated with listeriosis. Six people have died from this so far, and a lot more across the nation are infected and sick. The meat products were used in Subway, McDonalds, and other popular places.

The plant in Toronto where this meat is produced has been closed down - and the outbreak started going public on the 17th of August and I just heard about it on the 24th. There are commercials from the company now apologizing to those who have lost loved ones due to it.

I also heard about a recall in the states with.. I think pizza pockets of some sort? I'm not 100% on that one.

It begs to question about quality control. We trust these companies to provide us with a food product and that we're not going to DIE eating it.
For a list of everything recalled (six pages worth, they're now recalling everything made since January 2008) you can look here.

For more information about Maple Leaf products, you can look here.

My thoughts and well wishes to anyone who may be affected by this, it really sucks.

[Kanad]

The story I heard was that the Hot Pockets recall was for contamination of the filling with plastic. I don't think anyone has died from the mistake, but it wasn't just one batch of them that was affected, it happened in both May and June on different days.

It is inexcusable, but it's a product of corporate culture in the world today. Efficiency and quality have in many cases suffered due to an emphasis on cutting corners and rushing work. I work in quality testing for a chemicals manufacturer, and the managers and salespeople in my company have made many questionable judgements when determining what to send to the customer... and we've had a few complaints recently so maybe they're feeling a push back from the effects of it. We don't make anything that is medicinal or for food use though, and I shudder to think that a company that does operates in the same way mine does.

I don't say I work in quality control anymore... once you've done it for a while you realize how little control they actually give you. I'm just sorry that good people had to die for Maple Leaf to realize their mistakes.