Sensation sans substance
Posted by Rich...! under Uncategorized on March 21 2005 at 12:00 PM
Yesterday’s Sunday Times ran a front page story on the whole Sudan Red saga. Sure it’s a carcinogen, sure that’s bad shit, however it’s hardly the big story they’re making it out to be. Especially considering the backlash that has ensued. Shops have been pulling stock of the affected products as if it carries the ebola virus, when actually, we’ve all been consuming these same products for years, would another couple of weeks while these companies get new suppliers really make a difference?
These holier-than-thou shops piss me off too, all responding by pulling the products because they may cause cancer if consumed in large quantities over time…
SO WHY ARE YOU STILL SELLING CIGARETTES YOU FUCKING HYPOCRITES?
This hysteria inducing journalism is pure sensationalism, and is as such irresponsible – as they say, it’s caused the “biggest recall of food” ever in SA. If Sunday Times really gave a shit, why did they only contact the suppliers at 16h00 on Friday for comment, especially as they say they’ve known about the issue for at least 5 weeks? They don’t give a shit, that’s why. They only care about the story. At least, as they communicated in their story, the manufacturers had ignorance on their side, albeit a weak excuse, but it’s something.
No wonder the days of conventional journalism are numbered…!
Update: That bloody Aquila went and wrote a far better post than this, go read it.
Update 2: Rooibos pointed me to this link, I like the following line “The Director of Food Control, Dr Theo van der Venter, has also said there was no reason to panic as the levels of Sudan Red in food are very small.” I stand by my initial sentiment, this is irresponsible and sensational journalism.
March 21st, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Hi Rich…!
I understand your anger, however I don’t think it is “conventional” journalism that we are angry about.
There has always been a need for an unbiased, unopinionated report of the facts from all angles so that we, the readers, can form our own opinions. Blogging represents our own opinions and thats cool, but its not journalism.
The trouble, I think, is that conventional journalism has become more and more opinionated and political, which naturally makes us angry.
I don’t think it is about bloggers versus journalism. I think that blogging (the space for personal opinions) will create an environment for true journalists to do their job (report the facts and the story without personal opinion.)
Just my opinion, of course.
March 21st, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Blogging isn’t journalism
Jo’blog represents an understandable backlash in his story “sensation sans substance”
I understand his anger, …
March 21st, 2005 at 2:23 pm
You’re 100% right…the mainstream media is turning into either “Fox News facist sensationalism” or plain old gutter thrash.
I’m living out of SA so have the pleasure of never having to see the Sunday Times headlines. That being said, I just saw the story about it on Google News (picked up by some medical site) and was about to SMS a friend in SA about it to find out about the hysteria…from the site I read I really thought it was a big deal.
March 21st, 2005 at 9:03 pm
So I’m off to do my weekly shopping tomorrow at Pick ‘n Pay – wonder how many empty shelves I’m going to be seeing. Good thing we’re all stocked up on chilli powder and stuff.
Seriously, good point about the cigarettes. And I really don’t know what the big deal is, the list of cancer causing things gets longer every day yet, it’s amazing we aren’t all on getting chemo and radiation treatment.
Don’t we have bigger problems in this country then a few products that may or may not cause cancer in some of us in the future. I think I have more chance of dying in a car accident then cancer – maybe we should ban cars?
March 22nd, 2005 at 7:13 am
The reason the Sunday Times only informed the suppliers on the Friday is simple…they’re a Sunday newspaper, and to have let the story out any earlier would have seriously compromised their exclusivity.
It was their big story of the week (and one of their biggest for a long time) and they couldn’t afford to run the risk of other papers scooping them. That’s the reality of the newspaper business.
The Sunday Times story was a good and thorough piece of journalism, and the Department of Health obviously agreed, hence the recall.
Why are newspapers always accused of being “sensational” and “hysterical” when they report on something as important as this?
Consumers need to know the facts about illegal food additives and contaminants that can possibly affect their health.
We should applaud the Sunday Times, just as we would applaud a weblog in the highly unlikely event that they managed to come up with a story as far-reaching and scientifically valid.
March 22nd, 2005 at 8:48 am
Cancer Scare
Rich…! over at Jo’blog has made valid points regarding sensation vs. objective journalism, in the wake of the UK and now South Africa’s massive product recall…
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Rich…!
I would go as far as call them Hypocrites.
I think the cigarettes is a silly comparison.
Cigarette Boxes have got warnings on them, and everyone knows (possibly cause of the warning labels), that smoking MAY lead to Cancer.
Are the warning lables on this particular product?
NO, i think thats why there is a big hype about it.
If it had “Danger: eating this could cause cancer”
it would be a different story.
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:07 pm
Sorry I meant, ” I WOULDNT go as far as to call them hypocrites.
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Valid point HH, however I’m still not sure they needed a recall, why not just place warning stickers on the products,, that way we could make the choice?
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:52 pm
You’d have to eat a hell of a lot of these products for them to kill you! Heck – even water in too large amounts is toxic (and I’m not talking drowning here, but ingesting).
Are they going to slap cancer warning labels on every braai in the land? More carcinogens produced there, more regularly eaten, than in a couple of spices.
Wonder if anyone has questioned whether the ANTI-cancer stuff in the spices cancels out the cancer-causing stuff yet?
March 22nd, 2005 at 11:08 pm
Me2, I see your point but can’t agree. To me it’s a simple case of making a mountain out of a molehill. But you know what, things like this are pretty personal, if you are happy with the report and it’s findings, if you think it’s worth the hysteria, then applaud away…!
March 23rd, 2005 at 6:56 am
My point is that it’s not hysteria at all. It’s solid and essential reporting on a very serious subject, of interest and impact to pretty much everyone and anyone who ever has the need to shop for food.
Sudan Red is dangerous, no doubt about that. Its presence in foodstuffs has led to mass withdrawals of food everywhere from England to China to Australia.
Why should we be any different? Blame the foodstuff manufacturers for contravening international law and Best Practice. Don’t blame the Sunday Times for reporting on it.
True, there is a lot of sensational, hysterical reporting in the print media and elsewhere (consider the case of the “Pick ‘n Pay food poisoner”, for one).
But no newspaper worth its salt (or its Sudan Red, for that matter) would have ignored this story if it had come its way.
There is nothing trivial about carcinogens, or about manufacturers thinking they can get away with adding them to their food.
Now stand by for the inevitable You/Huisgenoot follow-ups…and then you’ll see what sensational really means.
March 23rd, 2005 at 7:28 am
lets get this straight…
if the sunday times had done done a “good” job and been the responsible party they claim, why were only 13 lines mentioned when over 417 have been tested positive in the last year as per the dept of health. Secondly, they would have informed all the major retailers of exactly what they found and in exactly which brands. sure i understand their need to sell papers but setting fear into the general public with line like “the products that will give you cancel” is just irresponsible.
They are putting people out of work and the story would have been so much applauding if they had helped rectify the problem after exposing it in a decent manner.
the sunday times has lost another reader.
dont they realise that backlash from the likes of Robertsons foods will casue a stir in peoples minds and affect their readership.
short term gain….
fools.
March 23rd, 2005 at 8:19 am
Huh? Where is the “backlash” from Robertsons Foods? If some of their products contain a known carcinogen, then the only likely and possible backlash should be from their consumers.
Also, since when is the Sunday Times putting people out of work? I doubt that a single person has lost or will lose their job as a result of this.
Sudan Red is a global scandal, and the Sunday Times HAS helped to rectify the problem by the simple fact that they have reported accurately on it.
So far, no-one in a position of authority seems to have disputed the validity of their reporting in any significant way. Whether or not it affects their readership is immaterial.
What is far more important is that consumers are now better informed, and hopefully more aware of the fact that not everything that goes into your food is good for you.
March 23rd, 2005 at 10:37 am
Ag dankie oom… So how’s about that biltong hamper now hehe
March 23rd, 2005 at 3:13 pm
Several manufacturing plants as well as distribution companies have come to a complete STOP. Certian lines will be de-listed from major chains causing a direct loss of sales and affecting all jobs in the industry. The likes of UBR (unifoods bestfoods Robertsons) are sure to be releasing a press report. Lines that have been removed off shelf (aromats, knorrox etc) are not contimated but have been removed.Secondly, most preserved foods contain one of several chemicals which will cause cancer far quicker and in far less doses that the Sudan range of colours. Sudans are STILL used world wide in the manufacture of make ups and especially lip sticks. so kiss your girlfriend good night, enjoy your nik naks and smoke till your lungs are content…
March 23rd, 2005 at 5:30 pm
“Several manufacturing plants as well as distribution companies have come to a complete STOP.”
Do you have a source for this information? It certainly hasn’t reached the major local news outlets yet (news24, m-web, iol, iafrica, etc.) If it is true (and I’m not at all suggesting that it isn’t) then it’s an even bigger scandal than the one that caused all the fuss to begin with.
On the face of it, it’s hard to believe that the withdrawal of a few lines of powders and spices could lead to the complete shutdown of several manufacturing plants and distribution companies.
Provide a link, please – this is something that will definitely prove to be of great interest to the news media and the public if it is true.
March 24th, 2005 at 12:08 am
Thought Crime
Have you ever been told “you think too much”? Could it be that the people who have adopted this phrase are really saying “do…
March 24th, 2005 at 7:33 am
one of the original companies implicated in the “food scandal” is DJ Foods. There has been no production in the factory since friday last week. All the independent distributors contracted here are sitting without pay, as well as all the sales representitives and merchandisers whose job it is to keep shleves tidy. This will be released in an update this weekend. Please be aware that the issue is not the loss of jobs in the short term or cost to companies in the short term , BUT irresponsible, over-exaggerated, “buy me buy me” journalism.
Its just sad to see how such a reputable newspaper can be heading towards the european tabloids fashion of print and sales.
March 24th, 2005 at 7:38 am
AND lastly, not all companies are as big and as cash flush as Robertsons. Some of the smaller companies affected like “osmans” & “alifa’s” depend heavely on the likes of shoprite and pick n pay to stay afloat. If these companies loose their listings, they will retrench staff and possibly fold – Regardless of their innocence or guilt.
March 24th, 2005 at 9:17 am
If this is the case, you should pass the information on to a newspaper or news agency so that people can get the other side of the story.
In other words, the “human cost” of the action taken to deal with a known health hazard. You’ve already posted it to a weblog, so take the next step and make it public knowledge.
But I still don’t understand why the Sunday Times should get the blame. Their story WASN’T exagerrated, and nor was it in any way irresponsible.
It was the simple truth – Sudan Red, a known carcinogen, WAS contained in those foods. And it IS dangerous to human health. Why should these things be swept under the carpet, or shrugged off as if they don’t really matter?
We live in a society where, thank goodness, the Press are free to investigate and report on matters of public concern.
It is the food companies who really are to blame here – they should have known better. Please stop trying to blame the newspaper for doing its job, and doing it well.
Or otherwise, kindly point out exactly where in the original report they were “over-exaggerating” or being irresponsible.
It is all too easy to accuse newspapers of being “sensational” or “hysterical”, when, in fact, as in this case, they are performing a worthwhile and very necessary public service.
March 24th, 2005 at 11:44 am
The reporter who broke the original story is doing a follow up this weekend. Lots of what i have mentioned will be brought up (not the fashion of reporting – obviously!). The papers should not be the parties who try rectify the issues, I agree, but rather than state “these products will cause cancer” they should not put the fear of god into the general public and cause mass hysteria. Secondly, papers like the Citizen, followed suite without even doing their own investigations. Why is that after the whole Nando’s scare last year (or have we forgotten the scandal?) the follow up reports were like on page 15 and not bold type face ? If the papers really cared and were THAT concerned surely when all was resolved they should splash that on the front cover…? hmmm “The Sunday Crimes”
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