Flash in the Pan

Until I read this story in the Financial Times I didn't realize that the EU had banned imports of US chicken for 11 years. Apparently there's a common practice in this country to wash chicken in a chlorine solution, and EU regulations require cleaning chicken meat in drinkable water only. Sometimes it takes hearing about an international trade dispute to realize that you want to avoid a product from your own back yard. Just another reason to stick with kosher birds or the equivalent - and maybe to press US authorities to indicate how chickens are processed. I don't even know whether chlorine would actually rule out kosher.

Then again, we've had some unpleasant experience with kosher birds - namely Empire brand - over the years. Just recently we picked up a couple at a Trader Joe's, got them home, started unwrapping one, and found that it smelled bad. The store was fabulous about handling the problem, not only taking the bird back, but bringing my wife out to check for a replacement and letting her open and smell it before taking possession.

Unfortunately, this isn't the only time we've brought Empire birds home to find the aroma off-putting. We also had this problem a few times with The Butcherie, a kosher food store in Brookline, Massachusetts. Does it mean that the better taste that goes with a kosher treatment also brings a higher risk of a problem? If anyone has an answer, I'd be glad to hear it - and I think I'll check with some sources to see if I can provide some educated information.

Labels: chicken, kosher, poultry

As July is National Hot Dog Month (no, I can't make this stuff up) and today is the annual hot dog eating contest on Coney Island, I thought that a few choice bits on this snack:

• For more than you ever wanted to know about hot dog consumption, preferences, history, and trivia, see this page from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Counsel.


• There's more on hot dogs (including information on the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile) at MadeHow.com.


• The FDA has its say about the way to cook one today.


• The Off the Broiler blog did a massive hot dog tasting.


• wikiHow has instructions on calculating the value of pi by throwing frozen hot dogs.


• HowStuffWorks on how hot dogs are made.


• Some history of that hot dog landmark, Nathan's, from Amusement-Parks.com.


• In 1981, the USDA tried to classify ketchup and pickle relish as vegetables, as FoodReference.com reminds us.


• GlobalGourmet.com brings a history of ketchup.


• For those who prefer mustard, here's a history of that condiment from GlobalGourmet.

Happy Fourth, and good eating!

Labels: FDA, hot dogs, kosher, Oscar Mayer, pi

Odd stories from the previous week:

• Step Away From That Burger Three kids get arrested in a school food fight. Guess the fare was a bit more stale - and hardened - than usual. (San Francisco Examiner, et. al.)


• Ah, the Bouquet A Florida McDonald's had to be evacuated after toxic fumes affected the workers. Given the usual fare, I'm surprised anyone noticed. (WFTV)


• Officer Sues a McDonald's A policeman was legally displeased to find "a mucousy substance" in his sandwich, and he's charging that two teens working at the place were responsible. Apparently this is close to the last step after arguing with the establishment, which had fired the employees. Of course they did - phlegm costs extra adn you can't just give it away.(Sun Sentinal)


• Two Hurt in Japan from KFC Salad Two patrons at two different Japanese KFCs were hurt from small pieces of glass found in salads. How many times do we have to say it: The salad goes into the bowl, not the bowl into the salad. (Reuters)


• Don't Order the Steak Israeli diplomats tired of having to take guests in other countries at kosher restuarants have just been told that they'll have to continue with the practice. And they'd better clean their plates, too. (Reuters)


• This Ain't Peanuts A Pakastani zoo is looking for financial help. It's one elephant gets angry when meals are late and beats the zoo keeper with a stick. And you should see what it does when the fish comes with red wine. (Reuters)


• Was the Food a Little Dry? A patron at a Wendy's in Florida shot the manager, who refused to give him more chili sauce. Hey, rules are rules. (Miami Herald)

Labels: elephant, food fight, KFC, kosher, McDonald's, Pakistan, Wendy's