Why do "experts" rush to make public statements when they don't have all the facts? Take the recent outbreak of e. coli in Germany. We were initially told by a group of "food experts" that the outbreak most likely came from tainted cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce from Spain, and the same was widely reported in the media. Now it turns out that Spanish growers weren't to blame at all. The outbreak was traced to a German grower of sprouts.
It is good that the source was found, but what of the tons of produce that was sent to landfills in Spain because buyers refused to accept their orders fearing those long-loved cukes, tomatoes and lettuce were tainted? Are the media now apologizing to Spain and its growers for publishing accusations of wrong-doing BEFORE the facts were known? No. Has Germany offered compensation for wrongly blaming Spanish growers and forcing them to dump their perfectly good produce? Not to my knowledge.
There is a good lesson in this: get your facts before pointing fingers. Reputations are earned by a lifetime of hard work and dedication. Those same reputations can be smashed with one wrong turn. And, when those hard-earned reputations are sullied wrongly, an open and honest apology is required and an offer of reparation needs to be made.
For all those in the media who wrongly reported the story, they owe Spain and all its growers an apology.
For the German government and the health department experts who pointed the finger at Spain, an apology is also needed along with a large check to repay the farmers, truckers and distributors for their losses.
It is good that the source was found, but what of the tons of produce that was sent to landfills in Spain because buyers refused to accept their orders fearing those long-loved cukes, tomatoes and lettuce were tainted? Are the media now apologizing to Spain and its growers for publishing accusations of wrong-doing BEFORE the facts were known? No. Has Germany offered compensation for wrongly blaming Spanish growers and forcing them to dump their perfectly good produce? Not to my knowledge.
There is a good lesson in this: get your facts before pointing fingers. Reputations are earned by a lifetime of hard work and dedication. Those same reputations can be smashed with one wrong turn. And, when those hard-earned reputations are sullied wrongly, an open and honest apology is required and an offer of reparation needs to be made.
For all those in the media who wrongly reported the story, they owe Spain and all its growers an apology.
For the German government and the health department experts who pointed the finger at Spain, an apology is also needed along with a large check to repay the farmers, truckers and distributors for their losses.
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