FRIED COFFEE

In my previous post “ Howard Beale Lives” I linked to a clip of Peter Finch, as news anchor Beale, in Network that became an iconic film moment.  That movie was produced in 1976 but the message and topic of the clip is, perhaps, more timely today  than it was 33 years ago.

I suggest that the internet is our window and we can shout out by sharing Beale’s sentiment,  “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this any more“.

Under that category I offer this:

The Peanut Corporation of America hasn’t had a smooth road in the legume processing business.  According to information in Wikipedia the company has had other problems in the past.   Dan Chapman and Margaret Newkirk at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote about PCA’s CEO  Hugh Parnell and his rise as a goober businessman.

Parnell had been serving on the USDA Peanut Standards Board until he was removed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last Februrary 5th.  That same day the USDA banned PCA from all federal government contracts and subcontracts.

President Stewart Parnell has been summoned to appear in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Wikipedia also lists several comments from public officials in its article as follows:

• “This company had no conscience in its production practices, sales and distribution. That they would knowingly ship products tainted with salmonella to our nation’s children almost defies belief.” – U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)^[12]

• “I’d like to see some people go to jail. This was a company that should have shut things down immediately.” – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)^[48][49]

• “The actions by the Peanut Corporation of America can only be described as reprehensible and criminal.” – Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)^[50][51]

• “They tried to hide it so they could sell it. Now they’ve caused a mammoth problem that could destroy their company – and it could destroy the peanut industry.” – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin^[51]

• “We’re going to be doing a complete review of FDA operations. At a bare minimum, we should be able to count on our government keeping our kids safe when they eat peanut butter. That’s what Sasha eats for lunch. Probably three times a week. I don’t want to worry about whether she’s going to get sick as a consequence of eating her lunch.” – President Barack Obama^[52][29]

• “This is a clear and unconscionable act by one manufacturer.” – American Peanut Council statement^[33]