A True Story of Food and Family
The story is real. The names have been changed to protect the innocent from frivolous public records requests. I have a colleague that is one of the world’s experts in food safety. He is an encyclopedia on foodborne disease. He knows how to safely handle food. He understands foodborne toxins. This guy knows about genetic engineering. In short, if you want to understand food and food risk, you talk to this guy. We’ll call him “Steve”. It was Thanksgiving, 2015, and Steve and his wife joined the family at her mother’s house for a traditional dinner. Among the family members in attendance was his brother-in-law, an accomplished concert pianist who is widely recognized for his expertise. We’ll call him “Richard”. As the family took their places at the table and began to pass the dishes, Richard took the opportunity to comment on the items on the table. “That turkey is oozing with antibiotics and hormones, you’re crazy if you eat it,” Richard said. Steve jumped