The deaths from listeria linked to cantaloupes now have risen to 13 and meanwhile Congress does nothing about food safety. Where are the hearings, where is the outrage that Americans are being poisoned? Yes, poisoned by cantaloupes, not once but 19 times since 1984 according to federal officials.
Yet not a word from the White House or from any of those running for president. Not a single politician wants to step up to protect consumers from unsafe food. Are politicians afraid they will be seen as big government thugs? Does the mantra of less government regulation mean we should just let consumers eat food at their own risk?
Well, all is not lost. Costco plans to take action to protect American consumers. A Costco official told the New York Times, “I don’t think the cantaloupe industry can continue on doing the very same thing and expecting a different result. It’s time for companies to get more aggressive. If they know this is going to happen, let’s step up and not let it happen.”
Costco says it will consider setting new standards for the growing and handling of cantaloupes. Costco may even require suppliers to test their cantaloupes for pathogens. This from the same company that tests its own ground beef to ensure it does not sicken its customers. So forget our politicians protecting consumers, thank Costco.

This post is tagged costco, fda, food safety, Investigative guy, investigativeguy John Mattes, unsafe food