Take the "Cold" out of Cold Cuts and Put Back the "Hot" in Hot Dogs
We've blogged a lot about listeria and avoiding it is a good idea, in the neighborhood of "breathing is a good idea." The CDC, in an article reported by Elizabeth Weise in USA Today Wednesday, is recommending a couple of things in connection with cold cuts, including hot dogs, for those over 50, and in particular those over 65, to avoid listeria:
- Reheat them to 165 degrees Fahrenheit just before eating
- Don't keep them in the refrigerator longer than five days after opening
Which kind of takes the "cold" out of cold cuts, doesn' t it?
Ms. Weise's article then goes on to explain what a change this would be in the behavior of people who are often dependent on lunch meats as a relatively inexpensive source of protein, and to question where the source of this advice is coming from. The CDC, for its part, notes that listeria doesn't go away when refrigerated and doesn't give either visual or olfactory clues to its presence. The industry response is that consumers should look for products containing antimicrobials like sodium lactate or potassium lactate.
As the article implies, this advice is counterintuitive for many people. Moreover, as one person quoted in the article points out, the placing of the label of "risky" on such an ordinary item takes away some of life's enjoyment as well. That is not to deny that the risk is real, but it is akin to a "Black Swan" event whose probability may be low but where the consequences of the event occurring are high and can change the way we think. Pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at high risk, but constitute a more discrete part of the population that is generally more likely to consider itself in need of health information. I'm 54 and don't think of myself as at extra risk of this kind of food-borne illness.
On the other hand, I haven't eaten any cold cuts or hot dogs since I started getting a reaction to them while still in my 30s.
Maple Leaf Foods: A Case Study in the Persistence of Memory
Maple Leaf Foods is Canada's largest food processor, and as the name implies, it traces its history a long way with our neighbor to the north. It has always prided itself on its food safety procedures.
Last year, as was widely reported, more than 20 people all across Canada died from listeriosis traced to one of Maple Leaf's processing plants in Toronto. A huge recall of Maple Leaf products was ordered. Recently, the company settled class action cases for a reported $27 million.
Perhaps Maple Leaf thought that put it all behind them. Hardly. A Thomson-Reuters article described how Maple Leaf considers itself well-placed in the current economic environment. The story is 11 paragraphs long. Five of the paragraphs tell the company's story. Six of the paragraphs, including the lead paragraph and the final five, are concerned in whole or in part with the listeriosis outbreak, plus a new recall of frankfurters and hot dogs.
People have long memories. The article in today's Wall Street Journal that peanut butter sales in the four weeks ending February 21 dropped 13.3% compared to the same period last year is just another indication of that.
