Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser [198]
some of the meat used by Jack in the Box: See Terry McDermott, “The Jack in the Box Poisonings — Why Inspection of Meat Fails,” Seattle Times, January 31, 1993; Frank Green, “Foodmaker, Suppliers Settle E. coli Claims,” San Diego Union-Tribune, February 25, 1998.
“This recent outbreak sheds light”: Quoted in “Meat Institute Urges Federal and State Agencies to Adopt Industry Guidelines Proven to Prevent E. coli 0157:H7 in Hamburgers,” PR Newswire, February 4, 1993.
“The presence of bacteria in raw meat”: Quoted in Fox, Spoiled, p. 252.
208 had waited a week before acknowledging: See Robert Goff, “Coming Clean: After Its Tragic Outbreak of E. coli, Jack in the Box Quickly Fixed Its Food Handling,” Forbes, May 17, 1999.
210 A study of campaign contributions: See “The Captive Congress,” a chapter in Safety Last, as well as the statistical tables, pp. 9–21, 76–90.
212 prosecutors claimed… Both men were later found innocent: See Scott Bauer, “Prosecutors: Former Hudson Foods Officials Lied about Meat Recall,” AP, November 10,1999; “Tyson Unit Acquitted of Lying in Beef Recall; Hudson Quality Control Director Also Cleared,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 4, 1999. health officials in Nevada did not learn from the company: FSIS Recall Policy Public Meeting.
“had not been fully tested”: Quoted in Elliot Jaspin and Scott Montgomery, “U.S. Mum on Fast Food Recalls,” Cox News Service, August 18, 1997, Jaspin and Montgomery have written a number of fine investigative pieces on the USDA and the meatpacking industry.
“We live in a very litigious society”: Quoted ibid.
213 The USDA now informs the public: Interview with Elizabeth Gaston, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
“Its very frustrating for us”: Quoted in Allison Young and Jeff Taylor, “Stealthy Meat Recalls Leave Consumers in Dark,” Denver Post, May 13, 1999. See also Allison Beers, “Recalls Present Tough Decisions for Food Companies,” Food Chemical News, May 4, 1998; and Pan Demetrakakes, “Backlash: Recalls,” Food Processing August 1, 1999.
“Press releases will not identify”: Quoted in “Recall of Meat and Poultry Products,” FSIS Directive, January 19, 2000.
A recent IBP press release: “Ground Beef Product Recall,” IBP news release, June 23, 2000.
214 Nowhere does the press release mention: The story of the outbreak at Tiger Harry’s is based on interviews with officials at the Arkansas Department of Health, including Dennis Berry, an epidemiologist; John Kraft, a field investigator; and Dr. David Bourne, medical director of the Preventive Health Section. See also “21 Ill, 11 Hospitalized for E. coli; Outbreak May Be Tied to Restaurant,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 3, 2000; “266,000 Pounds of Bad Beef Recalled,” Capital Times, June 24, 2000; “Health Department Finds No Further Cases of E. coli Infection; USDA Investigating Ground Beef,” press release, Arkansas Department of Health, June 16, 2000.
“We can fine circuses for mistreating elephants”: Quoted in Carol Smith, “Overhaul in Meat Inspection No Small Potatoes, Official Says,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 29, 1998.
215 demoralized and understaffed: See Allison Beers, “Plant Staffing Shortages Exacerbated by Excessive Absences, Low Morale,” Food Chemical News, August 16, 1999.
the USDA had 12,000 meat inspectors: See Jake Thompson, “Meat Inspectors’ Role Scrutinized: Critics Say That Despite a New Safety Program, There Are Too Few People to Monitor Plants,” Omaha World-Herald, August 24, 1997; “Industry Forum: State of the Union,” Meat & Poultry, March 1998; and “Beefing Up Inspection,” Government Executive, February 1999.
215 the new HACCP plans are only as good: