Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You recall the product.
You decide the potential danger is serious enough to recommend to your
supervisors that the product should be removed from store shelves.
When you inspect the farm, it turns out that the owner was confused about
proper milking procedures. You work with him to straighten out the problems.
Soon, the bacteria levels have fallen to a safe level.
This was the real-life decision made by dairy inspector Tony van Vonderen
in a similar situation.
"At all times, we must remember that we are dealing with a highly perishable
food product, which is considered healthy and safe," he says. "This decision
resulted in calls from consumers relying on this product. Many wanted the
product back in the store immediately. But when they understood the hazards
of coliform presence, they understood why the product was removed."
Once the product was removed from store shelves, van Vonderen's next priority
was helping the dairy processor. "Many hours were spent working with the processor
to ensure that the product was back on the shelves in as short a
time as possible, but also safe and of the highest quality," he says.