Today we’re taking the topics of health, education and energy – squeezing it together with our hands into a sticky ball and seeing what kind of juices come out. It appears that we have screwed up so bad in providing children poisoned beef through a national school lunch program. According to Blomberg.com, “The Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., the supplier of ground beef to U.S. school lunch programs, recalled a record 143.4 million pounds of meat after the government said it was unfit for humans.” This was in reaction to a video posted online by a member of the humane society, shown in an AP Report.

For those readers in Minnesota who may be thinking to themselves, “California – must have been too far away,” you’re wrong – as can be evidenced by this Press Release from January 31st, 2008.My opinion foremost is that we should be thankful that this potentially dangerous meat was uncovered – as I do remember hearing horror stories in the past about cover-ups in the meat world. It’s no stretch of the imagination to think that nations and businesses may behave unethically to protect their short-term bottom line – but in this instance it seems there has been enough public outcry to warrant action.I should note that the President of Westland-Hallmark did post a reply on February 3rd to what appears to be previous complaints or recalls on their website. If that explanation has been taken down you can view it here.

The key “new idea” to this story which has never been seen before is the online video. It was the online video that promoted public outcry and action. So my new idea to improve public health and by extension education is that web-cams be posted along the entrance to harvest facilities so that the public can see for themselves in real time that all livestock entering is indeed ambulatory as the Westland Hallmark President assures all of his customers. Perhaps this should be a special requirement for meat processing plants supplying school lunch programs.