Small Business, Big Recall

The peanut butter recall has had an enormous impact on businesses. There have been 2,100 processed and packaged foods recalled according to the NYTimes.com. That’s an enormous amount and not all of the companies that have been impacted are large, well funded entities that know how to deal with recalls. Many of the companies are small and have neither the resources or know how to deal with an event like this. The NYTimes.com has an interesting article on the disadvantages that small businesses have when dealing with large recalls. It’s a real problem that deserves more thought. Our food doesn’t just pass through large producers; it is also handled by tons of small businesses. It’s important that those businesses have traceability and recall solutions that are just as effective as the larger food producers. That helps keep dinner tables safe and businesses solvent.

Salmonella in my PB and J sandwich?

When I was a kid, eating a PB and J sandwich for lunch was as common to me as grass stains on my knees. It was a staple of my young life. The recent salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter brings out new concerns about today's childhood snacks. How can we ensure that the products we feed our family aren’t tainted? In the coming year we’ll continue to watch outbreaks like this while paying close attention to the industry's ability to effectively trace these outbreaks.

Recent articles:
Kellogg takes peanut butter snacks off shelve
Tub of peanut butter checked for link to salmonella outbreak