Personal Responsibility Using Products

I've sure, Sisters and Brothers, you have all now heard and seen that Nestle has removed it's ready to bake products from stores because some people eating the uncooked cookie dough have gotten ill. While there is no excuse for any contamination of a product on the part of the manufacturer, I want to talk about consumer responsibility today.

Why? Not only are products being removed from shelves, products that some folks may really miss using, but this article from the Examiner warns that 200 jobs may be on the line as well. The Nestle products have a warning on them and instructions that say not to eat the dough uncooked. Now because some people feel the need to disregard these warnings and good old common sense, the company is losing revenue and people may lose jobs.

I'm sure someone out there is going to sue Nestle and frankly I think they should not win that suit unless they followed the product directions and got ill after baking them as instructed. If you want to make some homemade cookie dough and eat it raw, the consequences would rightly fall down on your own head. Isn't it about time that this applied to all circumstances in life? If you purposely misuse a product, choosing to not follow the directions the manufacturer has put on that product, aren't you the person responsible for what happens at that point?

Why should Nestle or their employees, many of whom have others dependent on their income, be punished for your choices? The government agencies that should be overseeing product safety need to do a better job and companies need to do better as well but I hope those folks don't lose their incomes or the issues ends up in court but those were be unjust in your Chocolate Priestess's rather strong opinion.

Yes, we need to hold business to high standards especially when it concerns consumer health but that never excuses the user from making wise decisions. Moderation and Purposefulness -- always think before you consume anything please.

Sisters and Brothers, may you too take the time to slowly appreciate what the Divine and human ingenuity have offered you in chocolate.

If you are reading in the eastern half of the Midwest, don't forget The Chocolate Cult's first CONTEST.

Comments

Laura said…
perhaps a product without e coli should be available? consumer responsibility is only part of the equation food safety is the other
who doesn't eat raw cookie dough?
I guess that's why they say DO NOT EAT THIS RAW you may get sick but are they saying you may get sick from e coli? What happens if the cookie is still gooey from cooking?
The government and the company have the responsibility to make sure the product has no e coli -- the consumer has the responsibility to use the product wisely and according to instructions. If you reread what I said above, I say that if you used it according to the instructions -- you baked as instructed and you still got ill, then that is the companies fault.

If you want to eat raw cookie dough, shouldn't also take responsisbiity for what happens to you? Just the same as if you mow your lawn in bare feet and get injured or decide to drive after taking a pill that warns you that you shouldn't operate machinery or drive?

Unless someone put a gun to your head and made you eat that cookie dough, go mow without good shoes or drive under the influence, the bulk of that responsibility is yours.

Now if you baked those cookies very well and got sick -- sue them!
I had a similar argument when that guy sued McDonalds when he spilled his coffee in his lap and got burned. They didn't throw it at him. He spilled it and got like millions of dollars for it. It's coffee. It's supposed to be hot. C'mon.
*nods at Mrs. Myers*

One of the big goals of this entire blog I write is about helping people make good decisions. We all do things we shouldn't do, it might be human nature, but I hope those who follow The Chocolate Cult are learning to make better decisions not only about chocolate but about anything.

I hope I am learning that myself.
Laura said…
I was looking at both sides. I don't think anyone from any ecoli cases have sued the manufacturer. I don't really know. I guess I'm not going to get all excited about it until it happens.

I do believe if you are stupid then you are responsible.
*nods* Yes we shall have to see what happens.

Is it just me or are there a lot of cases now with food being contaminated in the past few years?
Laura said…
no its not you there have been since the jack in the box burger deaths