LETTERS

Beware of barbecued bugs

Posted

To the Editor:

Whatever happened to the good old days when our worst worries on the 4th of July were traffic jams and wayward fireworks?

A well-warranted worry, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Meat & Poultry Hotline, is food poisoning by nasty E. coli and salmonella bugs hiding in hot dogs and hamburgers at millions of backyard barbecues. The hotline’s advice is to grill them longer and hotter. Of course, they avoid mentioning that the high-temperature grilling that kills the bugs also happens to form cancer-causing compounds.

Fortunately, some forward-thinking U.S. food manufacturers have solved these issues by creating an amazing assortment of healthy and delicious veggie burgers and soy dogs. No nasty pathogens or cancer-causing compounds in these tasty plant-based foods. They don’t even carry cholesterol, saturated fats, antibiotics or pesticides. And, they are conveniently waiting for us at almost every supermarket.

This 4th of July offers a great opportunity to declare our independence from the meat industry and to share wholesome veggie burgers and soy dogs with our family and friends.

William Sanford

Westerly

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  • davebarry109

    William, do you vegans get together and plot these letters to the editor or is this an individual sickness? Do you really think we would give up burgers and brats on a summer holiday weekend for tofu junk? As in everything, there is nothing wrong with meat in moderation. Moderation is the key to everything in life and diet. As for bugs, most food related sicknesses come from unwashed hands touching greens such as lettuce. I've never been sickened by meat but have been bed ridden by dirty hands touching my salad. Nice try though. For this 4th, I had burgers, brats, BBQ chicken, grilled corn on the cob, stuffies, chowder, and much more.

    Tuesday, July 5, 2016 Report this