STORYLINE

Massive SSHAM recall over concerns of contaminated shrimp

SSHAM ordered a massive recall of over 500,000 cans of SSHAM, SSHAM Less, and SSHAM Extra Spicy today after a major shrimp supplier was forced to shut down. An FDA investigation found a number of serious violations at the Pilua Shrimp Farm, including the use of prohibited feed and illegal antibiotics. This is the first major recall of SSHAM and the company says it is, “acting quickly to ensure the quality and safety of their products.”

Investigators say they were acting on a tip when they began their surprise inspection of the local fish farm. They are calling what they found, “The single most dangerous aquaculture operation the agency has ever seen.” Normally, shrimp are considered one of the safest shellfish options available to consumers when it comes to heavy metals and other contaminants. However, officials have called the shrimp at Pilua potentially deadly.

In addition to a number of violations regarding waste disposal and water filtration systems, the farm had been giving the shrimp dangerous antibiotics, namely nitrofuranzone and chloramphenical. Both have been restricted in the U.S. because of serious side effects including cancers and aplastic anemia. However, It was what workers had been feeding the shrimp that most concerned investigators.

“They had purchased tons of contaminated Iron Curtain era fishmeal really cheap and had decided to use it. We tried to test it with our field equipment but the toxin levels were so high that our machines errored out. We decided to test some of the shrimp and found mercury levels that went through the roof and substantial levels of lead, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and other potentially dangerous chemicals. They were basically feeding the shrimp poison mixed with binding agents,” says an FDA investigator.

While there is no evidence that any of the tainted shrimp made it into a can of SSHAM, the company and the FDA agreed to the voluntary recall as a safety precaution. But food safety advocate Betsy Kaukau says that SSHAM is dangerous enough on its own, without toxic shrimp, that consumers should be cautious.

“A single serving of SSHAM has about 85% the recommended daily amount of sodium, 80% of your daily saturated fat, and whopping 95% of the recommended cholesterol. It has virtually no nutrients or vitamins and a list of chemical preservatives to prevent bacteria growth and extend shelf life as long as your arm. Research suggests that these chemicals can increase your risk of getting cancer and developing heart disease. It can even hurt the ability to transport oxygen throughout the body, promote type 1 diabetes in children, damage the blood vessels, and lead to hair loss or impotence. It may be the most dangerous food ever put in a can, regardless of whether or not a batch was made with tainted shrimp.”

“You don’t get to be Hawaii’s favorite processed canned meat by making a bad product,” counters SSHAM founder and CEO Art Pua’a. He says that the company follows strict guidelines to ensure consumer safety and has been working with the FDA to guarantee that none of the Pilua shrimp make it out to the public. Pua’a says that the vast majority of their suppliers follow the rules and run their businesses in an ethical and safe manner. “We will be reviewing how we work with our partners to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. I am extremely disappointed and concerned about the way things were run at the Pilua farm, especially since they were a local operation. That’s not how you treat a business partner or a neighbor,” he added.

As far as the future of SSHAM or the issues raised by Kaukau, Pua’a says he’s not concerned.

“We took quick and decisive action in this case and I think consumers trust us. Our meat product is delicious, quick to make and affordable. Moms, chefs, and kids alike love us. While we wouldn’t stop you from eating a can of SSHAM for every meal, we’re not advocating it either. Everything in excess can be problematic. While I’m a huge fan of the locally grown coffee, I’m sure my doctor would have something to say if I drank multiple pots every day. The truth of the matter is that SSHAM allows people with a busy schedule to enjoy surf and turf in a can. Its spicy-shrimped-hammy goodness is beloved by millions and enjoyed grilled, fried, baked, and diced, safely every night. We plan on doing everything we can to keep it that way.”

STORYLINE

Manimal Light Makes Its Debut Despite Criticisms

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Refreshment fans, hydration enthusiasts, and the curious alike, were lined up outside the Lahainaluna Road Big Bites store this morning, in anticipation of the debut of the first new Manimal product in almost four years. The company has been promoting Manimal Light as a “breakthrough in exhilaration, offering the same reinvigorating properties of regular Manimal, with 99.9% less calories.” However, many are calling the new formula a marketing scheme, and contend that Manimal Light is nothing but a can of hot air.

According to the promotional material, “Manimal Light is the culmination of years of hydration and energy science. Proven to be just as invigorating as 2 cups of coffee, in a paid, single-blind test, conducted on people who had just enjoyed a Manimal, Manimal Light is designed for everyone forced to cage their inner-Manimals for 8 hours a day at work. Whether you’re sitting in a cubicle, scanning barcodes, or stuck in a conference room, Manimal Light won’t hold you down with excess calories. Light your fuse with Manimal Light, and smolder until you’re ready to rage again.”

Despite the enthusiasm for the new product by fans, and the claims in the company advertisements, many are saying Manimal Light is nothing more than a marketing scheme. “It’s nothing more than a can of air with a tiny bit of Manimal atomized inside,” says Betsy Kaukau of the Hawaii State Department of Health, one of the new product’s most vocal critics.

“Back in the 1990’s oxygen bars began to popup all over the place. The thought was you could breathe scented, oxygen rich air to boost your health and well being. They made claims that it would enhance your immune system, increase your energy, and stave off headaches and hangovers. It was complete rubbish of course, just like Manimal Light. I mean, it says right on the can that it has to be kept at room temperature or above, so the Manimal stays a mist, and doesn’t revert back to a tiny bit of liquid at the bottom. Manimal Light isn’t lighter than air, it is air! I thought that “lurchin” was the stupidest thing I’d ever see someone do, but I was wrong. Paying money to smell what amounts to a mostly empty can of Manimal has to take the prize.”

Manimal says that the new product is simply the natural culmination of aromatherapy and refreshment science. The company points out that air stations have been available for people on the go in many cities like Tokyo, Beijing, and Mexico City for years. They claim that Manimal light is simply a less intense version of the Manimal their customers have grown to love, “perfect for work, wedding ceremonies, funerals, and other solemn occasions.” The company claims that inhaling one can of Manimal Light every morning has been shown to reduce inflammation of the lungs, and reduce the effects of asthma; a claim that every health and medical expert we contacted vigorously refuted.

In a press conference yesterday, Spencer Kane, company CEO and Manimal founder, said he was “super stoked” about including a new low-calorie option to the product line.

“Manimal Light has the same great smell as regular Manimal with 99.9% less calories. It’s like the smell of your morning cup of coffee, if that smell could slap you across the face, and fill you with the energy you need to make it through a day’s worth of boring meetings. More refined than Manimal Spray, the vaporized mist inside every can invigorates you on a molecular level. Look, everyone knows that West Maui has some of the best air in the world. That’s why we bottle every can right here in Lahaina. We’ve reversed exhaust fan 23 at our main bottling facility, long known as our most efficient from maintenance logs, to pull in that magical aloha air. Bottled at the source, and infused with the same Mainmal you’ve come to count on in when things get serious, Manimal Light will add to your energy and spirits, not your waistline.”