I cannot understand the copycat attacks following the strawberry product tampering

My latest book, co-authored with my daughter Susan, Chicago: Lessons Learned has just gone off to the printers in readiness for the launch in Chicago on the day Susan graduates with her Doctor of Psychology.  One of the 6 case studies that we researched was the Tylenol Murders in 1982 which led to massive changes in packaging to prevent a re-occurrence.

While no one was ever charged with the death of 7 people, the thing that I could not get my head around was the fact that there were a staggering 270 reported copy cat incidents. Some turned out to be false reports with people just feeling ill but a great many were real and involved the poisoning or sharp objects being put into children’s sweets during Halloween.

Susan looks at this in her section of the book and explains that many psychologists are requesting the media to hold back on the reporting of things like mass shootings, suicides etc due to the copy cat phenomenon.

To be angry is one thing but to go out and deliberately hurt innocent people whether they be consumers of the fruit or family businesses such as growers, packers, and fruit shop owners is something that I cannot get my mind around.

There is Malicious Product Tampering and Product Extortion insurance of course but this is quite expensive and out of the affordability of most businesses.

As I type this however, I ask myself the question, is the way some people have been put through hell and back by my industry any different? The guilty would argue that it is, but I am not so sure.

I keep asking myself what sort of world are we leaving our children and grandchildren, but then I look at the integrity shown by many young people including my children and staff who refuse to participate in anything that is not 100% correct. For example downloading a copy right image. They are proud to be ethical consumers and investors.

They are appalled by the behaviour demonstrated by some big corporations and will not support them, act like them often stating that 2 wrongs do not make a right. I am extremely proud of them for their stance.

I suppose that I should take comfort that they find LMI is a good home for them knowing the first corporate value here is utmost good faith. In turn, it gives me great comfort that I can trust them.

I will hold off saying more on the subject of copy cat crimes until the new book is out but do think the government ought to look at the penalties for food product tampering. A maximum of 10 years appears too light but then a lot of penalties do including arson.