"Too big to fail"
We've heard this term applied to financial institutions in the wake of the 2008 economic collapse. But as we've seen with the massive egg recall, we should apply this term to our food supply.
"Too big to fail" referred to the size of the companies that collapsed, forcing an unpopular bailout. As we've seen in films such as "Food Inc." — too much of our food supply is in the hands of too few companies.
Two companies — so far — have been the source of the egg recall. Two gigantic companies. One company that fed another company — and that one company has a bad track record.
We have had spinach and tomato recalls, and there was some concern. Somehow this egg recall has struck a chord.
The sheer size of the recall — over 500 million eggs. The fact that eggs are more prominent in our lives.
A lot has happened in the interim period of time. People are much more concerned about food safety, as more people become aware. And a change at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue didn't prevent this, but might make it more difficult to have this happen again.
That is still a big IF. Food and Drug Administration chief Margaret Hamburg wants to shift from reactive mood to a more "preventive approach."
You read that right. The United States federal government is powerless to try and prevent huge food calamities such as this one. Even if politically you fall in the "like a weak federal government" philosophy, protecting the safety of what you eat would seem to be a significant priority.
The estimated sick total is currently at 1,300, though that could get higher. Thank goodness no deaths so far.
One side point to note: like hamburgers, the advice for eggs is to cook the heck out of it to avoid disease. The subtlety of the runny, sunny side up fried egg may disappear in the ways of the rare hamburger. David Shaw is rolling over in his grave.
It's extremely easy for food purists to say, "Know where your food is grown." But most Americans don't have that easy option, and they need to be protected.
Ironically to me, I started eating eggs this summer. But I've been sticking to locally grown brown eggs, except for a 6-pack of Trader Joe's brown eggs. And I've been eating them in ways that would freak out those who want us to overcook our food to be "safe."
As many eggs as I've eaten this summer — to me, it's a lot — I've only been eating them two different ways. Very runny fried eggs and raw in spaghetti carbonara. If I had been eating tainted eggs, I'd be typing this in a hospital bed, if I had the energy.
Another side point is that we are supposed to look for codes on the side of the cartons to see whether the eggs are tainted with salmonella. But those who get their eggs from local farms usually get their eggs in recycled cartons. Let's hope there isn't a mishap from potential confusion to get a carton that says contaminated eggs when they aren't.
In the spinach, tomato, and egg recalls, we aren't searching for answers as to how this happened. We know how this happened. We kind of know what the answers are; well, we know what the answers are, but whether we can or want to get to that point is the one mystery in this equation.
Bad working conditions that aren’t inspected well enough. An environment is big is best, regardless of food quality or safety. A lax "laissez-faire" approach to food safety and quality. And a “guberment is the problem” mentality.
When President Barack Obama was elected, many people were hoping that he would use the power of the presidency for much needed changes in the USDA and FDA to give them the tools to improve food safety. I even wrote in 2008 that electing Democratic politicians would make it easier to improve food safety.
Despite the egg recall, the results are mixed, but definitely lower than the expectations for this administration. There may have been scandals that were thwarted, similar to thought to jobs that were saved. But the food system is more powerful and more cumbersome than the Obama Administration may have thought.
In passing financial reform to try and avoid another “too big to fail,” the Democratic politicians in Congress (plus any Republicans who want to jump in and help) should come up with a bill to make sure food producers aren’t "too big to fail." Our homes and money might not be at stake this time, but our health is. Food safety and food quality: no government action can everything 100% safe, but we need to come a hell of a lot closer than we are right now.
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