‘Hamburger Hoax’ and Contamination at Supermarkets

The “Hamburger Hoax” (June 14) deserved no more coverage than this childish action was given. There was a statement in the article, however, which gives me cause for concern, and which may deserve further investigation.

According to police accounts, the plastic finger was discovered in the hamburger “as it was about to be repackaged.”

Why would this meat be repackaged and not disposed of? If it was because the package had been opened, was it intended that steps be taken before repackaging to assure there was no contamination? If the meat were repackaged, would it bear a new date attesting to its freshness? Is this common practice in supermarkets?

I would not knowingly purchase meat or any other product in packaging which had been opened. It would appear my local supermarket may make this detection impossible and could potentially be an ally of the terrorists who have been poisoning products over the past few years. The prankster may have done someone a favor by making the contamination of the meat so obvious.

MRS. A. G. WEINMANN JR.

Tustin