Jeff Koopersmith weighs in on perhaps the final failure of the Bush Administration.

January 17, 2009 – Geneva (apj.us) – At least five people are dead and thousands are sicker than an infected Keebler Elf from salmonella picked up from peanut butter made by the Peanut Corporation of America. 

U.S. health officials say this type of salmonella is not especially “virulent”.

I wonder then – what variety is?  Wouldn’t you say that five dead people in a few days and hundreds in the hospital is a pretty solid indication that this strain is virulent?

Then again, I suppose next to “weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,” this understatement is to be expected.

Thank goodness the Bush Administration keeps an eye on health matters for us!  No wonder they think Americans don’t need universal health care. What are a few deaths from peanut butter – made in America? Nada, of course!

This poison peanut butter is shipped in 2,000 pound containers as well as in truck loads.  The company says that none of this peanut butter was sold through retail stores.

Really? Then how did people get it?

It seems the focus now is on Kellogg’s brands “Keebler” and “Famous Amos,” who makes the worst peanut butter cookies I’ve ever tasted.  I thought Keebler was bankrupt.

While the Peanut Corporation claims that only “institutional peanut butter was involved, not name-brand consumer products” I think they must mean that they ship the salmonella poisoned stuff to mental “institutions”.  If people are getting salmonella poisoning from Kellogg’s products I think the maker might be fibbing.

Twenty two percent of the victims – the ones that didn't die – are in the hospital.  The Centers for Disease Control's Dr. Robert Tauxe – who must specialize in coaching on waterboarding – claims that this rate of sickness and death is “an average rate for Salmonella.”

Oh, I thought we had to worry.  Silly me.

Dr. Tauxe was also quick to point out that the outbreak was linked to Peanut Corporation of America who “voluntarily” recalled peanut butter it produced in the moron-controlled state of Georgia.  Whoopee for them!

Later, Peanut Corp recalled all its Georgia-made peanut butter.

Oops!

Jeff Koopersmith is an internationally renowned political consultant, opinion research authority and policy analyst. He has lobbied for causes including the alternative fuel sector and women's health, and is an expert on the international real estate market. He lives in Philadelphia, Washington and Geneva.