KRC

What about snot and rat poison? How about it being covered in sludge? Really, it doesn't bother me either. After this amount of time seeing this stuff, I just kinda shrug it off.

There are "things" which make it into the dough before, during and after it is mixed. Then you add the "things" that make their way into the product throughout the process. Couple that with the process itself. I will use pretzels for an example. It depends on who is making the product, whether they are using a batch mixing process or a continuous mixer. I will use the batch mixing process as an example. Flour is dumped in automatically from the silos (or holding hoppers above the mixer). Bugs can appear in the flour. Sometimes, they are alive at this point, other times they are dead. The operator of the mixer adds the ingredients by hand. I have seen operators sneeze, wipe their mouths and noses with their hands, and then immediately touch the raw ingredients as they put them in the mixer. I have also seen operators handle rat traps (with rat poison in them) and then touch raw product. After everything is mixed, the dough is emptied onto a conveyor for further processing (about a 600lb batch). Flies have been trapped in the dough as it is exiting the mixer, along with the aforementioned operator using their hands to get the dough out of the mixer. Jump ahead in the process. Flies have been caught in other parts of the process as the pretzels are shaped and are moving through the system. The pretzels are then put through a caustic solution (NaOH or soda ash). This solution is what gives the pretzel the dark exterior while maintaining the white interior. It is also what gives it the crackery texture. Well, plants usually run 24/7, which gives very little time to clean this solution. The solution becomes very dirty and sludgy. Take the skankiest river you know, and imagine your pretzel dipped in it before it is baked. After it goes through this cooking process, the salt is added. You do not even want to know what I have seen in the salt bins. It then goes into the oven, where most of the moisture is removes (down to about 11%). At the back end of the oven, it transfers to the kiln for drying (to the final moisture of about 3-5%). This transfer point contains a LOT of dirt, dust and grit. It also contains stale product and anything else that gets caught. It then transfers into packaging where more stuff can be "added," especially if they are bulk packing. So, anyone want a yummy pretzel?

The same goes for any food plant, not just meats. I was in the snack food industry for 11 years and you would not be eating most of the snack foods you see on the shelves, if you saw what I saw.

That's better.

L-M-E and JSP. Stop with the personal attacks. I edited both of your posts to remove it. Next time, I will not edit but just delete the whole friggin post and ban the offender. Enough of the BS.

This person acts like they have never had a finger in their chili before. Where is the problem?

The Republicans are acting more and more like Democrats each day. Politicians need to stay out of education. I agree, in part, with what they want to do in the fact that students are being punished by some professors for espousing conservative POVs, but this bill is ridiculous. Professors need to educate students on all POVs but not punish them if they do not believe the same as the prof. It is the prof's job to inform, not tell people what their beliefs should be. This type of thing needs to be addressed within the school itself, and not through the legislature.

That is enough optimism out of you, mister.

Well, the sanctity of marriage argument kinda falls apart when he moved on with his life and had children with another woman. The question I have, is how the law treats a couple which is separated. That is basically what their "marriage" is now.

You know that you are taking a credibility hit when you quote Nozzlenut, right?

Sucks to be him. Maybe the kid will learn to lock the door next time.

This is going nowhere.

Yeah, probably not a good idea.

Why?

Don't let it happen again.

That is what happens when you use emotion to determine legislation, instead of thinking things through and examining all of the possible ramifications.

Welcome to wasteful bureaucracy. Don't worry. They will probably raise taxes to fix the problems.

I don't care if you strangle them, just don's use the Nazi references while doing it.

Instant loss of credibility and will not be tolerated on this board.

Exactly. I was a Dachau several years back. It is something that I will always remember and will have a lasting impact on my life. I guess people need to resort to those types of things when they have nothing to contribute to the discussion. It is pretty sad.

Exactly! You can't experience different cultures if you stay within the resort community.

Ironic, isn't it?

I pretty much agree with you assessments. It was the wrong song for Anwar. Same goes for Bo. Let's see if they can pick something better next week. Carrie was awesome last night. Jessica's voice just does not seem to be strong enough to do that song. She held back too much. Overall, I would give the same grades that you did.

Why, do you want to be all over Simon too?

It sounds like you need to hire his CPA. You have been missing out.