I'm reminded of the PBB (2-bromobiphenyl) contamination of cattle feed that happened in Michigan some 30 years ago. In that case the Michigan Farm Bureau was responsible for mixing cattle feed. What happened is that bags of fire retardent (containing PBB) were stacked next to the bags that were supposed to be mixed with cattle feed. Cattle started behaving strangely all over the state. However, it wasn't until one brave farmer and his veternarian released the results of their private testing to the media that contamination was acknowledged by the Farm Bureau. And the farmer and the veternarian were subject to personal threats by other farmers who were in denial, along with the Farm Bureau, that there was a problem.

Menu, Inc., seems to have done better than the Farm Bureau in trying to quickly evaluate the suspected contamination and then take action. I would caution those who think that relying on imports subjects us to a greater risk of contamination. China appears to be the culprit in this case but when we are talking about a national corporation, domestic sources could also be the source of the problem as it was in Michigan.

Charley Noble