Key West Lou / BOAR’S HEAD MESS

Boar’s Head deli-meat company. Famous brand. Dependable, so popular. It’s Publix’s mainstay at the deli counter. The demand for Boar’s Head products has made its owners fabulously wealthy.

Now the Company faces the biggest scandal in its history.

Its story suddenly public.

For example, no one knows who the CEO is. Always has been so. Even those at the highest end of the Company hierarchy do not know who the CEO was or is. During which times Boar’s Head makes about $3 billion a year and employs thousands of people. What is known is that the Company is owned by two families. The Brunckhorsts and the Bischoffs. Secretive people.

The two families do not necessarily get along. Even within each family, there is friction. New generations are coming into the business! They want position and a piece of the action. Instead the elders require them to start at the bottom learning how to bone hams, make bologna, and mix spices. Earning $7 per hour, working 70 hours per week, and remaining in such basic and servile positions for years.

Lawsuits have prevailed amongst and between family members as a result. Many believe they are entitled to more and want it now.

There are and will be more lawsuits. Because of the 10 people who died and the dozens hospitalized from and with listeria, a dangerous food borne bacteria. Most after eating liverwurst prepared at the Boar Head’s factory in Virginia. The plant employed 500 and has been shut down since the listeria problem occurred.

U. S. inspectors had warned Boar’s Head of safety concerns at the Virginia plant where the listeria broke out. The inspectors warned conditions posed a “monumental threat” to public health. They pointed out “extreme rust, deli meats exposed to wet ceilings, green mold, and holes in the walls.”

There is so much involved with the Boar’s Head Company, its power and its methods of operation. It would take pages for me to report and I still would only have scratched the surface.

Yesterday’s edition of the New York Times (10/13/24) provides a detailed article. I suggest you read it for better enlightenment. Titled “The Secret Dynasty That Controls the Boar’s Head Brand.” Authored by Maureen Farrell.

Random observations.

A “long” 22 days ahead following what already has been a long year. The polls are of little use. I have not had faith in them in recent years.

Rampant disease throughout Gaza. Polio and cholera. It was inevitable.

Rumor has it Trump has moved ahead of Harris. Disasterville, USA, should Trump win.

The Supreme Court has grown too powerful. Time to do something. It will be up to the next President and Congress.

The Electoral College has to go. A President should be elected by majority vote. PERIOD!

A recent study shows 1 in 5 American children face hunger this year.

Moving on.

Happy Columbus Day! In addition, Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It is celebrated in 200 cities and 4 states.

It was revealed this week that Columbus was not Italian. Rather a Sephardic Jew born in the Spanish city of Valencia.. Such the result of a 22 year forensic study.

Maine has a “one of its own” competitions. An annual event. Held this past saturday. A “wife-carrying championship.” The husband carries the wife on his back. Generally upside down. Feet around the husband’s necks. Purportedly makes it easier for the wife to be carried.

The contestants get mud, beer and cash.

The winning couple receives the weight of the “wife in beer” and 5 times the “wife’s” weight in cash. Note wife is in quotes. The reason being this year the couples were not required to be married or of different sexes.

Thirty couples participated this year. Some from different states.

The event is based on a 19th century Finnish legend involving a gang who was known to pillage villages and carry off the women.

Syracuse and Pitt meet in football thursday evening  October 24 at Pittsburg. Perhaps the most important game of the year for each team. Syracuse is presently 5-1, Pitt 6-0. Syracuse unranked, Pitt #22.

A hell of a game expected!

I am a creature of habit. Lunched again yesterday at Goldman’s. The grilled cheese sandwich! Still wildly tasty!

I close with how busy my day today is. Already did blood and other prep work this morning at Dr. Norton’s. I have a physical scheduled with him wednesday. At 3 this afternoon, I will be having my yearly heart physical with April Gallagher.

My day a typical one for the elderly. Many medical visits. Becomes a way of life. A good thing!

Enjoy your day!

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]