One amusing/interesting side effect of these recalls is that it really lifts the veil from efforts most retailers make to obscure the source of their products. In this case, noted organic and wholesome retailer Whole Foods is forced to admit that it buys its bulk peanuts from the same shoddy supplier in Georgia as pretty much everyone else.

Quoting from the linked press release:

THIS ACTION WAS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE RECENTLY EXPANDED RECALL BY PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA (PCA) TO INCLUDE ALL PEANUT INGREDIENTS PRODUCED IN THEIR BLAKELY, GEORGIA FACILITY, IN TURN AFFECTING WHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER FOR BULK PEANUTS

Whoops!

It pains me to even remotely defend Whole Paycheck, but they probably weren't hiding the source of their peanuts. A handful of companies sell them to packagers, which are then sold to distributors... they can be two to four levels removed from the source once they reach customers. Grocers order them from a distributor, not the source.

You would be amazed how many items are being recalled daily as a result of this peanut debacle. I get at least 5 new notifications every day to pull product from shelves... energy bars, trail mixes, peanut butter, cereals, granola, frozen dinners, thai peanut sauces, and on and on. The scariest thing is that we depend on a handful of companies to supply the country with peanuts... it's truly a house of cards, and it's not the only commodity with similar risks. Our food system is broken.

Our food system is broken.

Amen

Let's it to the list of "bigger is better" systems around here.

Can they expand the recall to include some of the nut cases serving in local government?

I don't think lugnuts are on the recall list just yet.

"Our food system is broken" Add another Amen to that one.

Start being more self-sufficient or continue putting your life in the hands of people who don't know you and don't care about your health or your life.