The Crossed Pond

So, here we go again. The latest update in the Salmonella Scare of 2008. If you are not up to speed on this dog and pony show, you might want to read earlier posts on the the subject here.

At any rate, the Wall Street Journal now reports that…

Jalapeños Probed in Outbreak
Tomatoes No Longer Seen
As Prime Suspect for Salmonella
By JANE ZHANG and JANET ADAMY
July 5, 2008; Page A1

WASHINGTON — Officials investigating the salmonella outbreak now are looking at jalapeño peppers as a leading suspect for spreading the bacteria that has sickened hundreds across the U.S. over the past three months, according to people familiar with the probe.

These people are a trip! How much fear and economic carnage will they wreak before they throw up their hands and unapologetically admit they have no clue?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially blamed tomatoes. That led to industry losses of hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the National Restaurant Association, as consumers cut down on consumption and restaurants pulled them from menus.

CDC (Can’t Decide Crap)
FDA (Fails at Doing Anything)

May God help pepper farmers everywhere.