Only days after Michelle Obama unveiled the government's new "food pyramid that isn't a food pyramid anymore" encouraging us to eat more salads, news reports from Europe are filled with nightmarish stories of people who are dying or are seriously ill...because they ate salads.
So far, over 2000 people have been infected, and at least 22 killed, by a deadly new strain of E. coli which has contaminated vegetables. Victims have suffered kidney failure as well as intestinal hemmorhaging and bloody diarrhea (as the English say). Although the exact source isn't yet known, officials are very suspicious of bean sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes. As are most 5 year olds.
All of which goes to show that even when we try to do the right thing, nutritionally or otherwise, there are no guaranteed outcomes. We live in a dangerous and imperfect world... and not even a nanny-state government promising to making all outcomes "fair" will change that.
For now, this particular E. coli outbreak has not reached the United States, and we certainly hope that remains the case. But just to be on the safe side, give those fruits and veggies an extra rinse before putting them on your table.
And as the first lady reminds us, always remember to scrub your yams.
-
0 comments:
Post a Comment