Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wendy's World - I've got one of those peanut butter jars

The power of suggestion is a very powerful tool. Sometimes, theres a ton of warning in the fact that someone denies, objects or even remains quiet on some particular point. Sometimes the fact the one person experiences something is enough to warn the rest of the world.

I worked in a factory setting for awhile and there was an ongoing good-natured battle between us and them. I seldom came out the winner in those situations because Im simply a gullible person wholl fall for almost any practical joke.

But once I looked at a guys fountain drink when inspiration struck. Hed stepped away from the table for a few seconds and when he returned I pointed to the bubbles on the top of his drink and said, I didnt spit in that and if anybody tells you I did, theyre lying.

He took one look at the bubbles and slid the drink across the table to me. He didnt believe it but just wasnt willing to take the chance.

The power of suggestion happened to me this week with peanut butter. Im sure that everyone has heard about the recall by now. We arrived at work after the news and checked the lid. Sure enough, there was the Magic Number - that number that indicated someone somewhere had gotten sick from eating peanut butter from that particular batch.

Two things amaze me about this whole thing. One is that its a name brand and a store brand being recalled. Bingo! I always knew there wasnt really any difference. The only way both kinds are being recalled is if theyre both made in the same factory by the same folks.

The other is that theres no raw materials in peanut butter that should cause this kind of hysteria. So how is it that it happens? A disgruntled employee brings raw eggs into the plant? Throws a raw chicken leg into the peanut butter mix?

It boggles the mind.

Back to my personal jar of peanut butter ...

My daughter and I had eaten half the jar. Wed eaten peanut butter and apples and I had a pb&j sandwich. In fact, all of us here at the office had eaten of the dreaded peanut butter.

When we verified that we had the Magic Number, my first thought was that we should take some action. Maybe we should all go poke our fingers down our throats and throw up. Nah. We ate the peanut butter days or even weeks ago. Too late for that.

Then reality took over and I faced the fact. Wed eaten of the Magic Number and hadnt died. I dont guess wed even gotten sick from it. If so, none of us could remember it.

So our particular jar of peanut butter must not be contaminated, Magic Number or no.

It sat on the cabinet most of the morning and I stared at it every time I walked by. I debated because its a half jar of what is apparently perfectly good peanut butter. Should I waste it?

Finally I realized that Id never be able to eat it, nor to watch anyone else eat it. It just seems to risky. So I dropped it in the trash.

But I still really want to know what could possibly go wrong in a peanut butter factory.