A public service thread ...

No, not THAT Public Service! We are following our fellow blogger MacDoctor's lead, by suggesting that readers...


And why would we want to do that? Well, have a read of some of the good MacDoctor's words:

I am horrified that the frozen vegetable maker, Talley’s, is taking such a lackadaisical attitude to the contamination of packets of frozen peas. Up to 50% of their peas have been found to be black nightshade - a fairly poisonous berry. Have they ordered a recall? No. Have they shut down the line and checked their product? Apparently not. And the response of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority is “to give them a call”. A kick in the backside would seem more appropriate.

Talley’s attitude is in marked contrast to Fonterra’s response in February to a possible further melamine contamination. Fonterra stopped shipment of their products immediately and did not restart until they were sure that the contamination was contained. Talley’s has these contaminated packets out in the community and all they can offer is a vague promise of a “review of its processes”. Their first complaint was six months ago and they are offering this wishy-washy garbage this week. What have they been doing in the meantime?

It is not as if this contamination is benign. Even at the level of a tablespoon per cup, they are likely to cause a great deal of nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, At 50% contamination they could easily be lethal to a toddler. It is perfectly possible some unsuspecting mother is mashing peas for her infant right now, not realising she is about to kill her child. If that is not motivation enough for Talley’s to recall it’s product and fix its systems, I don’t know what is.

We agree 110% with MacDoctor's sentiments, and will studiously avoid Talley's products from the freezer at our local supermarket until such time as the company takes its food safety obligations seriously. We urge others to consider doing likewise.