Another Scam, or genuine food contamination?

Now that the woman who began the anti-Wendy's hysteria last year (the alleged finger in the Chili incident) has been sentenced to jail, I certainly hope that the story below is not another attempt at extortion by a scammer:

Bird's Head Reportedly Found in Bean Can

Friday, February 17, 2006
CHICAGO - A northern Illinois resident reported finding a bird's head in a can of pinto beans, prompting a Chicago-based food company to announce a voluntary recall on Friday.

La Preferida Inc. said in a statement that it was recalling a limited number of its cans as a precaution. The company says the beans were canned by New Meridian Inc. in Eaton, Ind.

"There are still many unanswered questions, but we have decided to err on the side of safety," said David Brand, La Preferida's director of quality assurance.

The company is investigating to determine how the bird head got into the 15-ounce can, he said. The Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also investigating.

Luz Marrufo, a 28-year-old nurse's assistant, told the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb that she found the bird's head Thursday while preparing breakfast for her three sons. She said she purchased the can at a grocery store in Aurora.

"I don't think we'll be eating beans for a long time, unless I make them," Marrufo told the newspaper.

She gave the can to the county's health department. No injuries or illnesses resulted, the company said.

The cans affected by the recall bear the lot number 5348 MF on the lid. The batch was canned Dec. 14 and is marked by a best-buy date of Dec. 14, 2007, the company said.

A phone message left with New Meridian Friday evening was not immediately returned.

I'll find out. A friend of mine owns the company.

If she files a big lawsuit, I'll vote for scam. If not, it's real.

These things do happen. When I worked at the Navy's boot camp in Orlando, some kid bit into a dead mouse in his chili. He couldn't sue (there's a law that says military people can't sue the government). And it makes sense--they used real dried pinto beans--a mouse probably got into a bag of 'em and got dumped into the chili vat along with the beans. But like I told him--it may be unpleasant but it won't actually hurt you; the critter's well cooked and good protein. On the other hand, it should prompt an investigation of the storage conditions at the plant (or, in our case, the kitchen) since rodent feces and other vermin issues in the food is a genuine health concern.

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear





Bird's Head Reportedly Found in Bean Can

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I knew a guy once who claimed to have found a piece of pork in a can of Campbell's Pork and Beans. Of course, no one believed him.

Maybe it was a dreaded string bean bird! They are very uncommon, but once in a while one will pop up.

I hope she catch's bird flu.Seriously though,who knows?Not many of these accusations over the years amount to anything but trouble for the accuser.Can they do a DNA test on a bird?

Ahhh.. The benefits of DRY beans.

quote:

Originally posted by Adjudicator

Ahhh.. The benefits of DRY beans.

I'm not sure if you are making humor concerning the intestinal effects (in which case I'm not sure why you limited the joke to DRY) but if not, see my post above. Dry beans aren't immune to foreign critters.

Looks like they're leaning towards hoax: http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS01/602210320/1002

What kind of sociopath feeds their kids beans for breakfast?
"More beans Master Taggart?"
Anybody got a recipe for beans, bird brains, and beaks? I'm just guessing that Julia Child might have come up with one or two or thirty-two.

My thoughts exactly - Gator...

I'm positive my Mom NEVER fixed beans in any way for breakfast - on a school day...

I know that one kid I had to wrestle in 6th grade would have Chili for breakfast occasionally...

I think being that close and personal with another boy soured me on the whole wrestling thing...

It's Official... It was a hoax: http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060505/NEWS01/605050301/1002

quote:

Originally posted by gatorbreath

What kind of sociopath feeds their kids beans for breakfast?

Beans are a very common side dish in Mexican breakfasts. Nothing "sociopath[ic]" about it. . . huevos Mexicano, black beans y queso, tortillas, jamon, jugos de fruitas, a couple double shot bottles of mezcal and the warm morning sun at the zocalo in Oaxaca. One of my fondest memories.

And beans are part of an English breakfast.

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

It's Official... It was a hoax: http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060505/NEWS01/605050301/1002

It seems that almost all of the food contamination scams of the past year have been disproven when necropsies and lab tests indicated that the claimed contaminant had never been cooked. If the bozos who attempt these scams would only read the newspaper, perhaps they would not be trying to extort money in this fashion.

Not reading the newspaper can have very negative results, as a certain chief executive in the District of Columbia is just now beginning to learn.

Ted, if they could read, they would know the penaltys also. I figure this lady may have been living in poverty, trying to make a quick buck.. But I hope they fry her. Look at all the jobs she put at risk. Starting from the farmer, field help, processing plant, shipping, sales folk, etc.. Something that may seem minor to her messes with alot of folks lives.