4. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Media myth: A salmonella scare frightened everyone and upset one CNN anchor so much that he called for the impeachment of President Bush – but it turned out peppers were the culprit.
Originally published by the Business & Media Institute
CNN's Lou Dobbs, host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight," called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush on June 19, 2008 – but this wasn't about the Iraq war or some sort of atrocity. It was over tomatoes.
Dobbs placed the blame for the salmonella outbreak that had sickened 383 people by April 2008.
"You know, I have heard a lot of reasons over the years as to why George W. Bush should be impeached," Dobbs said. "For them to leave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in this state, its leadership in this sorry condition and to have no capacity apparently or will to protect the American consumer – that is alone to me sufficient reason to impeach a president who has made this agency possible and has ripped its guts out in its ability to protect the American consumer."
The media spread fear of tomatoes to the public. In the first four days of the scare – June 8 through June 12 – the three broadcast networks aired 20 stories hyping the salmonella outbreak and pointing the finger at tomatoes.
Ultimately, the misplaced blame cost the tomato industry at least $100 million according to an Associated Press story. The Food and Drug Administration later cleared tomatoes and found the true culprit of the Saint Paul salmonella outbreak: jalapeno or serrano peppers.
