We’ve resisted for days now, but finally, we just have to add our two pence to the great Bunnings Sausage Debate – or should we say debacle. Here’s a quick recap for those who may have missed this momentary media uproar.
An Ozie customer of the great homeware store apparently slipped on some onion spilt from one of the fundraising BBQs regularly held near the store’s entrance.
Bunnings, being a good corporate citizen, of course, decided to conduct an investigation, concluding that there was a problem with the onion.
The problem was that because onions were being placed on top of the sausage, they were likely to easily fall off, thus creating a Health and Safety issue for unwary purchasers.
The company decided that the best way to mitigate this clearly identifiable risk factor was to recommend that, in future, all sausage sellers be required to put onion on the bread first before placing the sausage on top.
We here at Whole Food Living have no beef with Bunnings as such, but that bit about Health and Safety kind of sticks in our craw a bit. Initially, it left us temporarily speechless like a jaw-dropping OMG moment.
Honestly, it would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. Is this for real? Health and Safety!
Before we review the deeper issues involved here, we can only assume that the Bunnings investigation covered only the most obvious risk factors and overlooked the long-term effects of eating the sausage.
Also, we think the type of bread involved here could not have been the focus of this investigation because serious followers of the whole food plant-based method are also sensitive about whether bread is made from whole wheat or refined flour. Plus, the possibility that it could contain any animal product (egg or cheese for instance) is also of concern.
On this score, we would ask our Vegan, Vegetarian and Whole Food Plant-Based friends to exercise a little patience and maybe, some restraint.
Stop and ask yourselves if the person who got hurt here really gives a hoot if the bread was whole-grained or refined white. Patience – take a breath. I know it’s rough. So many thoughts spring to mind.
We must turn our minds back to the onion because, let’s face it – the vegetable has become the scapegoat here. As we know, vegetables always get the blame.
And, of course, the fact that refined meat sausages are a known carcinogenic has never even entered the equation – let alone a Bunnings Health and Safety investigation.
So, what are we left with?
Surely this whole incident must mean more than an unfortunate customer splayed out on the ground, an unnamed bread type and a few onions at the bottom of a totally unhealthy, fat-filled, carcinogenic culinary creation.
Alas, somehow, we think not. In the moment’s mirth, we wonder if the real message has been lost in translation.
The fact remains. The sausage should take the blame. The whole incident happened only because of our addiction to fat.
RESOURCES FOR REFERENCE
NCBI Resources
American Cancer Society
University Health News
World Health Organisation
