Whatever happened to the good old days, when Fourth of July was
just Independence Day and the worst things we had to fear were
traffic jams and wayward fireworks? Recent findings by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that food
poisoning from inadequately grilled hamburgers and hot dogs should
now top this list.
Deadly pathogens in meat products have been sickening millions of
consumers annually and killing 9,000. The key offenders are E. coli,
salmonella, and listeria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
shifting its Meat and Poultry Hotline into high gear to help
consumers survive the Fourth of July grilling ritual.
Fortunately, American manufacturers have developed a great variety
of veggie burgers and soy dogs that are healthful, delicious,
convenient and available in every supermarket. And they don't harbor
nasty pathogens.
On [the next] Fourth of July, let's declare our independence from
the meat industry. Let's explore the many benefits of meat
substitutes, grains, vegetables and fruits in our diet.
BRIAN LARSON
Burbank
