WHOLE FOODS Salad Fiasco - This is why Indian Vegetarians MUST never trust even Vegan offerings in Food Stores

I expect great things from Whole Foods. I have shopped there several times and am shocked to learn the latest goof-up.

As a matter of rule, I dont trust *anything*, absolutely anything sold by American food stores,  American/Chinese restaurants or chinese and indian cooks. I eat at only vegan restaurants where there is a little chance of animal/insect/seafood content contaminating the offerings (reminds me of something I am researching right now - POKA YOKE)

Check out this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/whole-foods-error_n_3249651.html

What is an affront to my senses is the wording in this paragraph:

The Food and Drug Administration noted the vegan salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg. It said people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the salads.


The company, based in Austin, Texas, said no illnesses have been reported

No - this is unacceptable. Some vegetarians (lacto) like me cannot and will not eat animal-contaminated food, for religious and cultural reasons. We are not Vegan by choice or fashion! We chose Vegan so there are no assumptions whatsoever (no lac, no honey, no milk and its by-products too).

This thinking is embedded in American culture. I see it wherever I go - While it is hygienic and ultimately animal flesh is food - getting mentally sick from accidentally consuming contaminated food is the same as physical sickness emanating from allergies. American cooks (Teenagers), chinese or for that matter Indian cooks (in Indian restaurants offering a mix of veg/non-veg) dont get it.

Example, pizza places - they use the same gloved hands to dip into beef/pork and generously dip it into veggies. The pizza cutters are not dedicated for veggie lovers.
"Subway" - another worst example. The contamination of veggies as the workers move from meat to veggies is appalling.

This is happening everyday in America...people are ok with eating tiny chunks of beef, pork and chicken as long as it doesnt make head line news. Argh!


But, for now, I will take whatever 100% vegan restaurants there are in the offering and may their type thrive.