blogcutter

These days, I'd say we're usually pretty cautious about food safety. For example, we don't tend to buy products that are past their best-before dates. But we're not averse to what looks like a bargain, so if we see specials on things we buy frequently, then we buy up what we figure we'll use.

On Monday (Feb. 25) we found some brie on special at our local grocery store, marked as packaged on Feb. 19 and best before March 19. So we bought some, cooked it on Wednesday into a large batch of pasta, ate a small-to-medium portion of it ... and promptly got sick. Thursday was a washout but by Friday, I at least was feeling not too bad and went out for my usual walk to pick up my puzzle-papers. While I was at it, I stopped into the grocery store and looked to see if similar batches of brie were still on the shelves. They weren't, but a store employee was in the area and I informed her of our misadventure. She removed some packages that actually were a day or two past their best-before dates and when I went back later for a few groceries (though I wasn't in the market for more cheese), it appeared that the section had been further culled.

I find the whole episode a little ironic, since I'd always thought the Canadian dairy industry was one of the most heavily-regulated dairy markets in the world. I mean, they get so upset over the sale of unpasteurized (but apparently safe for consumption) cheese, even when the consumers are fully aware of what they're getting (not that I've ever tried any myself). Or the selling of fresh curds at room temperature (which I HAVE eaten with no ill effects). Or... I don't know, what about blue cheese?

Anyway, I haven't sworn off cheese or dairy products for good, but I don't think I want to look at a piece of brie for at least a few weeks!