SALMONELLA JERKY

A New Mexico firm has recalled 22,000 pounds of beef jerky ("Old Santa Fe Trail" and "Route 66" brand) in the wake of an outbreak of Salmonella infections that have been linked with the firm's products. Salmonella infections have been confirmed in 22 people, 20 of whom reported eating beef jerky. The company's Albuquerque plant was closed after investigators found unsanitary conditions there. Shocking, huh?

MORE FUN WITH CAGED ANIMALS

The capture and shipment of live dolphins to amusement parks has now reached a tipping point, where what was once a given - dolphins exist for our entertainment - becomes debatable. "This Is Fun, but Did Anyone Ask the Dolphins?" says The New York Times, noting that "a growing international protest movement of environmentalists and animal rights advocates say there is nothing educational about turning wild animals into lucrative rides and are outraged over the recent deaths of two captive dolphins at an amusement park." Ric O'Barry, a former trainer on the "Flipper" television show, says, "There is something obscene about a magnificent creature dying in an amusement park." The sight of six dolphins at the Interactive Aquarium in Cancún - a pool nestled among the T-shirt shops and restaurants at a mall - visibly angers him. "The reality is they are all going to die there if you stick around long enough," he said.

MORE DOWNERS FROM AYLMER

A total of 45 cattle too sick or injured to stand were taken illegally to Aylmer Meat Packers during a three-month period last year, documents show. While critics have alleged Aylmer is a dumping ground for downed animals, the incident reports are the first to document the extent of the problem. "The testing done on these animals doesn't tell you whether they had some neurological condition or metabolic disorders and whether that disorder in any way affects the safety of the meat." Hmmmm... neurological condition... oh, that's right, BSE.

And butchers admit that they turn a "blind" eye to the danger: Solly Stern, a butcher with four decades of experience, says, "You can tell if it's not fresh, if it's rotten, but you can't tell if there's something really wrong with it. It's a blind item." Meanwhile, butcher Trevor Clark says, "Now, it's blind faith. And to be honest, we don't know what we're buying." Well, I'm sure that's just in Canada - we're much better about protecting the consumer here in the US. *cough*
UPDATE 10/3: It's not just Aylmer: "City health inspectors have cited eight meat-processing plants in Toronto for 'significant' or 'crucial' food safety violations over the past two years," sez the Toronto Star. Whole lotta blindness goin' on. (VIA VEGAN PORN)

THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JOE

Little Joe waited at the bus stop before continuing his bid to escape the authorities. The 300-pound gorilla had just broken out of his Franklin Park Zoo enclosure for the second time in two months, overcoming a newly-installed electric fence, injuring two people and terrifying others. The gorilla was hit with four tranquilizer darts but had managed to pull at least one of them out.

What made him go ape? Maybe he got a sneak peak at today's study - Zoos Are Too Small For Some Species, Biologists Report. Yeah, like any of 'em bigger or wilder than housecats...
UPDATE 10/2: This version of the story gets right to the point: "Study: Zoos hurt roaming animals -- duh"

WHY RED MEAT CAUSES CANCER

A non-human molecule found in red meat and milk makes its way into the human system when eaten - and seems to build up especially in tumors, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. "Of course, there are already existing recommendations that people should not consume too much food containing saturated fats, such as dairy products and red meats," Lead researcher Professor Ajit Varki said in a statement. "The question arises whether the gradual accumulation of Neu5Gc and the simultaneous presence of antibodies against [it] could be involved in some diseases of later life."

And speaking of gradual accumulation, "Bacteria from the cut-price meat that we eat can remain in the gut for years and, warn scientists, breed superbugs untreatable in humans," reports the Guardian. "So are we sitting on an antibiotic-resistant time bomb? ...When you read this, you will understand why the check-out staff at supermarkets put your meat in a bag separate from your tomatoes."

PLAYING CHICKEN?

Two somewhat similar stories involving bad chicken meals: Mom Sues After Finding Tooth in Chicken Soup (ewwww!) and Man Says He Got Mouse With Fried Chicken (gagggg!) Bizarre. You don't suppose the 'Maggot Pete' gang is behind this, do you?