Preservatives are free

Speaking of underpriced food and cut corners, though, I admit to feeling slightly queasy on reading about the tortilleria worker killed on the job in Brooklyn and realizing the two-pound bag in my refrigerator was from that very factory. I’ve often wondered how $1 or $1.25 can buy so much, but I should have known safety had to be sacrificed (really: the bag, twist tie and shipping alone — not to mention the masa — have to eat into the bottom line on each package). Someone mocked me on the Twitter for wanting “humane tortillas,” but I doubt Upton Sinclair would be laughing heartily. The most appalling part is that the same tortilleria that was shut down for not keeping up with workman’s comp apparently had all the money in the cyberworld to commission a jingle and set up a lavish website to promote the cheap product. For the Flash music alone it earns a special place in hell.