Fair Warning on Foods

I subscribe to the USDA alerts, which gives notices of foods and drugs with potential problems, withdrawals, etc. The warnings for cat and dog foods at different times have been important to some of us…often the foods are distributed in discrete geological areas or through certain brands or vendors, and the problems are less ubiquitous.

 USDA Food and Drug Alerts

Still, they are effective in warning about health risks and problems and well worth knowing about in case you have something already in hand that is being withdrawn from outlets.  

But sometimes – my gosh – things are withdrawn for reasons that sort of defy common sense. I’m still kind of chortling about this one that was posted a day or two ago: 

30/2012
Subject: WIMBERGER'S OLD WORLD BAKERY & DELICATESSEN ISSUES ALLERGY ALERT ON UNDECLARED MILK, SOY AND WHEAT IN KAISER ROLLS, SEEDED ROLLS, BRAT BUNS, FRENCH BREAD, PRETZEL ROLLS, PRETZELS, PIZZA DOUGH, HOAGIE ROLLS AND BAGUETTES

Now, I realize that soy could be a problem for some people, but wouldn’t any reasonable person suspect that milk and wheat might be present in bakery goods?

 And while I’m on a bit of a rant – what on Earth is “fat free half & half”? Good for you? It has to be mostly chemicals. Bah. And what is this jazz about fiber-fortified water? What fiber? Cellulose ? Pectin? Gum Arabic? No, really?  Eat some cardboard and dissolve some gelatin in your drink, and save some money. Good grief, Charlie Brown.