[Boomer]

Spinach killed in 2006. Romaine and cantaloupe have been guilty, too. I know awful things can happen with the food industry but according to reports, violations were obvious at that Virginia plant. Where was the plant manager?

Boar’s Head has spent a fortune building its brand — which I admit had lulled me into a false sense of security on the rare occasion when I bought “lunch meat” — as we from my neck of the woods call it.

It will be a very long time before I get past this, if ever.

Was Boar’s Head cutting corners with employees and production while directing money into branding?

Boar’s Head had even built a rather elitist mode into certain grocery chains, where Boar’s Head was available only in specific neighborhoods. That big, price-gouging chain that is based in Ohio — and is trying to get even bigger — is known to have varying levels of stores depending on the net worth of the neighborhoods. There was a time when not every store in the chain was entitled to Boar’s Head. Might still be that way……And now, here it is….

The emperor is stark nekkid.

Even though this killer outbreak was supposedly confined to certain versions of the Boar’s Head products from one plant, I cannot help but think this mess will take its toll on the charcuterie fad…..

Charcuterie is everywhere now……

with books with pictures of veritable works of art (which the first person in line wrecks)

— and pretty boards and tiny dishes and fancy jams and every kind of olive imaginable and every shape of crackers, gluten-free and otherwise…..

and — starring processed meats!

Charcuterie boards surely have been a boon to the mystery meat business.

Will we ever look at charcuterie boards in the same way?

Or can the cheese stand alone and carry on, with all that pretty stuff around it. No meat in sight, for a while, anyway.

Boar’s Head, you will find out how far your half-assedness is going to reach.

Boomer