She Smelt A Rat

I have always been fascinated with bureaucrats and bureaucratese. These folk seem to inhabit a fantasy, rarefied universe that we ordinary mortals are not meant to comprehend. Consequently, very little that they say or do surprises me anymore. That said, the following true story knocked me for a loop.

A Slovenian woman, from Ljubuana, found a mouse foot in a jar of pickles she had recently bought: a rare occurrence, but it happens. The real surprise came when contacted the Health Ministry, as she prepared to sue the company producing the food. She was, perhaps, being overly optimistic if she expected genuine assistance from a government department. However, the official reply she received.

Instead of supporting her claim for compensation, officials said she should see the mouse foot as a "special additive". I kid you not. I will now quote the actual reply received from a Health Ministry spokeswoman. "It is completely normal in big factories to have mice wandering around, and yes, every now and then they get caught amongst the machines and do get bottled, seasoned, preserved and even make it in one piece to consumers. Although not very pleasant to see, they pose no health threat at all. During the preservation process, even traces of any salmonella bacteria are eliminated in food. A mice-foot therefore could be classified as a special additive to the pickles."

To those who brag, "only in America", all I have to say is, your city hall denizens are rank amateurs. They should learn from the master.

Source: Agencies/http://bigblog.com