At times "unsafe" food gets into the food chain and is recalled. When I say "unsafe" I mean that all agree it is unsafe. An example would be when the first U.S. confirmed "mad cow" was found. The meat was recalled, but did all of those who had purchased the meat find out in time to trash it? No. Even stores with those privacy invading cards that keep track of their customer's purchases and know who purchased the recalled beef did not notify these individuals that the meat they purchased came from lots identified as "mad cow" recall meat.
If that were the end of the story it would be bad enough, but what if states and the federal government entered into secrecy agreements where the names of stores and restaraunts could not be released? So, then the life destroying meat that did not get picked up in a recall, but was sold to customers would be eaten even though the store, or state, or federal government could have warned the customer that they may have purchased the disease laden meat.
You say this does not happen? Wrong. Read this press release dated October 1, 2004.
"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) vetoed a bill yesterday that would have let Californians know whether they’ve purchased contaminated meat or poultry. The bill, SB 1585, would have ended a secrecy agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and California that prevents the state from disclosing the names and locations of stores that receive shipments of recalled meat.
“Consumers have a right to know if they purchased recalled meat or poultry,” said Ken Kelly, Staff Attorney at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). “Why force families to roll the dice when they put food on the table? Governor Schwarzenegger prefers a get-sick-first, ask-questions-later policy.”
Center for Science in the Public Interest
When the state and businesses hide this important information from the public we know that we cannot rely upon the intergrity of the state or busness to protect the safety of our food.