Probe into Iraq Food Suppliers

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Reuters
Updated: 5:06 a.m. PT Oct 17, 2007
NEW YORK - Food companies including Sara Lee Corp., ConAgra Foods Inc., Perdue Farms Inc. and others are being investigated for possible fraud and corruption in supplying the U.S. military in Iraq, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

The investigations by the Department of Justice and the Defense Department are examining whether the companies charged excessively high prices to the Army's primary food contractor in the war zone, a Kuwaiti firm called Public Warehousing Co., the paper said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21341163/

I've got their new ad campaign: (sing it with me)

"Nobody Marks it Up Like Sara Leeeeeee!"

I mean, really...would it have killed them to toss in a few free packages of Ball Park Franks, or a box of pound cakes to the folks in uniform?

[erik_blank]

It's just too damn bad that war always seems to bring out the profiteering in people. I think that this goes WAY back and was seen in almost every U.S. war on record (and some off record), and can probably be seen in any other war where an established large government had to purchase items from the surrounding gentry and merchants.
A really good example in U.S. history it the war profiteering done during our 'civil' war.

[Hattrick]

hmmm not much here I think. to work or provide services to a war zone you need REAL GOOD hazard pay to entice people to work there. That will inflate the bill a "bit" you will also have to look at the preservation types that would have to be used in a climate that in summer can hit 120+F and freeze at night. cans can explode, and plastics melt or become brittle, alternative packaging is more expensive as well but hey.... it could be worse, I could be there.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

True. You expect to have to ante up in such cases. But there's hazard pay, and then there's highway robbery. Also, in this case, these companies were only supplying food items to a Kuwaiti company, which, in turn, delivered it to Iraq and presumably popped the pound cake in the oven.

Beside, it's such an odd mental picture. I mean, you can see a slavering multinational giant like Halliburton being tempted to pad things a bit...but sweet Sara Lee?

It dents your faith in Madison Avenue advertising.