Boustany takes principled stand (against Taco Bell)
Beating press release-happy freshman Congressman Jeff Landry to the punch, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, came up with a novel way of demonstrating his commitment to his beleaguered Gulf Coast constituency: He reached out to Taco Bell in a bid to restore the compromised reputation of seafood harvested in the Gulf of Mexico. The fast food chain recently began marketing tacos and burritos featuring “Pacific shrimp,” and it’s not sitting well with the good doctor.
In a letter to Greg Creed, Taco Bell’s president and chief concept officer, Boustany urges the gas magnate to show its commitment to Gulf Coast restoration by filling its fare with Gulf shrimp instead. “I want to alert you that Gulf shrimp has a rich tradition as being of the highest quality in the world, with Louisiana’s coast alone producing nearly one-third of the domestic seafood consumed in the lower forty-eight states,” Boustany writes in the letter that coincides with the start of the high seafood-consuming Lenten season.
In a press release touting the letter touting Gulf Seafood, Harlon Pearce of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board gives Boustany’s bid a ringing endorsement: “In blind taste tests, consumers chose Gulf shrimp 85 percent of the time over other products sold in the United States. Gulf Seafood is plentiful and sustainable, and its producers work hard to provide a nourishing, fresh product while protecting species for future generations. It makes sense that Taco Bell should not only consider but specify Gulf shrimp in all its recipes. It would show the country that Taco Bell is here to help the Gulf fisherman continue his efforts in this time of need.”
There is no indication that Taco Bell has responded to Rep. Boustany.
... written by ragin_cajun , March 10, 2011 - 06:25 pm
There is just no question about it--Gulf Shrimp are far superior to Pacific Shrimp, Atlantic Shrimp, shrimp from European waters. They may not freeze as well, they may be too big for Taco Bell's purposes, but Gulf Shrimp ARE better when prepared properly.
Same thing with oysters, too.
... written by Gaius Cilnius Maecenas , March 11, 2011 - 03:14 am
Walter has written an informative piece capturing governmental rivalry. I suspect Taco Bell is not using Gulf Coast Shrimp for a simple reason---it does not wish litigation by the public from charges of food poisoning or chemical poisoning.
I personally will never again (or, at least for 25 years) eat Louisiana seafood harvested from the Gulf of Mexico. Perchance this is because I had taken too many courses in chemistry at ULL, and have read more than four books on toxicology. This is a splendid example of where 'Ignorance is Bliss.' The stupid think God sends disease or plague to punish sin, the Science of Chemistry understands molecules and how they interact with biological systems to induce illness, disease and death. Too many lethal toxins have been injected in the Gulf of Mexico!
... written by N Denial , March 11, 2011 - 04:04 am
Yes, I too considerED Gulf shrimp the best ever, but I'm sorry, due to the depletion of the world supply of Corexit and continued spraying in the gulf and that other toxin, (OIL), Gulf shrimp will take a hit for a good reason!
... written by Dr. Ciano Phd , March 11, 2011 - 05:21 am
I am a firm believer that God in his wisdom always offers us alternatives in our daily lifes, with life supporting sources being at the top of the list, such as in the Middle Eastern country. Which is hard pressed for poultry meats, and the inhabitants have discovered another choice of white meat and that white meat is obtained from a native beast of burden, which roams throughout the desert plains, and is also considered a trusty companion to the Arab traveler traversing across the sandy dunes of the desert upon his trusty camelita. You may be thinking, "What does this have to do with Gulf Shrimp ? Wellll ! God put Shrimp, in the oceans for a reason, and God put camels in the desert for a reason, its all realistically relative, "If you think about it.
... written by Dr. Ciano Phd , March 11, 2011 - 05:36 am
Oye Maecenas, 50 years from now someone will quote your words of wisdom in a courtroom in pleaing their case for reparation for their client's loss of kin, found to have gone to an early grave from corexit poisoning found throughout the persons body, it was continuiously pointed out by the plaintifs attornry that the deceased was a habitual diner of Fried Shrimp poboys, from the Gulf of Mexico, every day of his life until his last meal. May he.......... R.I.P.
... written by BoFred , March 11, 2011 - 09:10 am
I recently saw a boat captain complaining about not being able to travel in certain waters of the Gulf. The Coast Guard is restricting areas. WhY? Is it not to disturb pools of nasty, sticky, sickening oil in those waters? In the name of national security would we, the public, prevented from knowing the truth. Is that the REAL reason drilling in the Gulf has stopped. Anyway, I have children to raise & I just don't trust much, if any, seafood. I know a coupla crawfish farmers, so I think I can eat a little of that. I trust La farmed crawfish. I think I'll try that Pacific shrimp. Course the earthquake could have messed those up too. I have to at least pay attention when I hear things like that.
... written by LAFAYETTE NATIVE RESIDING IN CA , March 12, 2011 - 02:42 pm
BOUSTANY, he deregulates the oil boys, they then pollute the gulf, then BOUSTANY wants you to be forced to eat the pollution that his big oil boys create.
I told you idiots who read theind that these CLOWNS that ya'll put in office are a bunch of nutty radical liberty taking puss bumps.
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Same thing with oysters, too.